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DURHAM,  N.  C. 


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EDENTON  STREET  METHODIST 
SUNDAY  SCHOOL 


RALEIGH,  N.  C. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH 


Commemorating  the  Opening 
of  the 


New  Sunday  School  Building 

April  28,  1912 
By  SUSAN  FRANKS  IDEN 


Edwards  &  Broughton  Printing  Company 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 


Ur. 

INTRODUCTION 

When  asked  by  the  superintendent  to  pre- 
pare a  sketch  of  the  history  of  Edenton  Street 
Sunday  School  from  1881,  when  the  old  build- 
ing was  dedicated,  up  to  the  present,  I  felt 
keenly  my  inability  to  perform  the  task  assigned 
me.  Mr.  Brown  prefaced  his  request,  how- 
ever, with  the  question:  "You  are  a  member 
of  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School,  are  you 
not  ?"  So  as  a  loyal  member  of  the  school  and 
with  the  one  hope  to  preserve  in  some  part  the 
history  of  her  glorious  past,  I  entered  into  the 
work.  How  small  that  part  would  be  I  did  not 
realize  until  I  found  that  unfortunately  the  rec- 
ords of  the  school  had  been  destroyed,  with  the 
exception  of  only  a  few  years.  And  with 
them  has  gone  the  story  of  many  of  those  who 
in  other  days  laid  the  foundation  upon  which 
the  school  is  rising  to  greater  heights  today. 

This  little  sketch,  therefore,  can  be  consid- 
ered in  no  way  a  history  of  Edenton  Street  Sun- 
day School  and  its  workers,  for  as  the  faces  and 
smiles  of  many  rise  in  memory  before  me,  none 
realizes  more  than  I  how  incomplete  it  is. 

S.  F.  I. 

Ealeigh,  April,  1912. 


A  SKETCH 

OP 

Edenton  Street  Sunday  School  Today 
With  Something  of  its  Past  History 

1827-1912 


From  1881  to  1910  there  stood  under  the 
wing  of  Edenton  Street  Methodist  Church,  as 
it  were,  a  little  square,  unpretentious  wooden 
building,  in  its  later  years  it  was  weather- 
beaten  iind  gray  without,  its  steps  worn  by 
many  feet.  Passing  within  the  swinging  doors 
of  I  lie  vestibule,  the  Sunday  School  room,  too, 
as  many  of  us  remember  it,  had  a  worn  and 
faded  look,  a  look  of  much  service.  The  walls 
had  become  discolored,  and  in  places  the  carpet 
was  worn,  but  always  and  to  its  last  hour  above 
the  platform  smiled  the  happy  word  "WEL- 
COME." They  were  not  very  artistic  letters, 
to  be  sure,  that  had  been  painted  there  when  the 
school  was  young,  but  they  served  their  pur- 
pose through  the  years.  One  saw  it  first  on  en- 
tering  the  door,  and  a  stranger's  heart  must 
have  felt  a  thrill  of  pleasure  as  he  realized  that 
in  EdentoD  Street  Sunday  School  there  was  a 


6  E  dent  on  Street  Sunday  School 

welcome  for  all.  And  the  welcome  has  always 
been  a  big  part  of  the  Sunday  School.  The 
glad  hand  of  fellowship  and  love  has  always 
been  freely  extended,  and  today  our  genial  and 
beloved  superintendent  is  noted  for  the  cordial- 
ity and  warmth  of  his  welcome  to  all  who  come 
within  the  doors  of  the  school. 

But  there  was  a  time  when  the  old  building 
was  new,  reflecting  the  skill  of  the  contractors, 
Messrs.  Ellington  &  Royster,  fresh  with  new 
paint  and  well  fitted  and  handsome  within.  It 
had  been  built  to  meet  the  need  of  better  ac- 
commodations and  more  comfortable  quarters 
for  the  children  and  other  members  of  the 
school.  The  committee  that  submitted  the  plan 
for  the  building  was  composed  of  Messrs.  W.  J. 
Young,  S.  C.  White,  J.  A.  Jones,  J.  S.  Wynne, 
C.  B.  Barbee  and  K  G.  Whitfield. 

In  a  sketch  of  the  Sunday  School,  prior  to 
that  time,  written  by  Mr.  Donald  W.  Bain,  he 
says :  "Their  efforts  in  raising  the  means  have 
been  seconded  by  the  ladies  of  the  church,  to 
whom  much  credit  is  due  for  the  success  of  the 
enterprise."  They  had  felt  the  need,  as  our 
still  greater  Sunday  School  has  felt  it,  of  a 
larger  building  and  better  equipment,  and,  put- 
ting their  hearts  in  the  work,  they  erected  this 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School  1 

edifice,  which  was  80  feet  in  length  and  about 
40  feet  in  width,  costing  $3,000. 

On  Sunday  afternoon,  April  10,  1881,  the 
members  of  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School  ded- 
icated this  building  "to  the  worship  of  God  and 
the  cause  of  Christian  education,"  praying  that 
many  should  go  forth  in  the  providence  of  God 
to  bless  the  church  and  society. 

In  the  forenoon  of  that  Sunday,  the  late  Rev. 
A.  W.  Mangum,  D.D.,  a  former  pastor,  deliv- 
ered the  dedicatory  sermon.  In  the  afternoon 
addresses  were  made  by  Rev.  A.  A.  Boshamer, 
the  pastor,  and  H.  A.  Gudger.  It  was  at  this 
afternoon  service  that  Mr.  Donald  W.  Bain 
read  his  splendid  sketch  of  Edenton  Street 
Sunday  School.  Beginning  back  in  1824  with 
the  first  Sunday  School  established  in  the  city 
by  Miss  Susan  D.  Nye,  in  the  Academy  build- 
ing on  Burke  Square,  and  the  Sunday  School 
formed  soon  after  under  the  auspices  of  the 
American  Sunday  School  Union,  the  history  of 
Sunday  Schools  in  the  city,  and  later  of  Eden- 
ton Street  Sunday  School,  was  faithfully  traced 
up  to  the  day  of  dedicating  the  new  building, 
April  10,  1881.  In  thus  preserving  the  rec- 
ords of  our  first  Sunday  School  Mr.  Bain  did 
a  service  that  lives  today  after  he  has  passed  to 


8  E  dent  on  Street  Sunday  School 

his  reward,  one  of  the  most  faithful  and  loyal 
members  that  ever  labored  for  the  interest  and 
good  of  the  school.  We  are  indebted  to  him 
for  the  preservation  of  the  names  of  the  fathers 
of  the  school. 

On  the  list  are  the  names  of  many  who  were 
well  known  figures  in  the  city  in  their  day, 
leaders  in  all  good  works.  They  laid  the  foun- 
dations, on  which  we  are  building  today ;  they 
sowed  the  seeds  and  today  we  are  reaping  a  rich 
harvest.  Most  of  them  have  passed  to  their 
reward,  and  surely  it  must  be  a  great  one. 

If  today  Rev.  Bennett  T.  Blake,  pastor  of 
Edenton  Street  Church  in  1827,  and  the 
founder  of  the  Sunday  School,  could  be  pres- 
ent, he  would  truly  rejoice  as  he  saw  the  splen- 
did fruits  of  his  labors,  the  wonderful  growth 
that  has  come  from  his  initial  movement,  almost 
a  hundred  years  ago,  to  separate  the  Union 
Sunday  School  into  schools  of  different  de- 
nominations. Renewed  activity  and  increase 
of  membership  was  the  immediate  result. 

The  Methodists  opened  their  Sunday  School 
in  the  church  building,  and  it  has  been  said  that 
for  a  number  of  years  there  were  morning  and 
afternoon  sessions.  Mr.  Nathaniel  O.  Blake 
was  the   first  superintendent,   being   succeeded 


Rev.  H.  M.  North,  Pastor 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School  9 

in  turn  by  Eev.  Thomas  J.  LeMay,  L.  W.  Peck 
(for  two  years),  Rev.  Thomas  LeMay,  Samuel 
H.  Young,  W.  J.  Young,  Sr.,  Donald  W.  Bain 
and  W.  J.  Young,  St.   (second  term). 

In  1839,  after  the  destruction  of  the  church 
building,  the  school  was  conducted  for  a  short 
time  at  the  corner  of  Hargett  and  Fayetteville 
Streets.  It  was  then  moved  to  the  Baptist 
Church  in  Moore  Square.  In  1841  it  came  to 
meet  again  in  the  newly  erected  mother  church. 

As  far  back  as  1850  the  importance  of  pro- 
viding a  separate  room  for  the  school  engaged 
the  attention  of  its  authorities,  when  the  first 
move  in  that  direction  resulted  in  failure.  The 
next  movement  was  made  in  1874,  when  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  consider  the  matter  of 
an  infant  class  room.  Owing  to  the  agitation 
of  the  question  of  a  new  church  edifice  at  that 
time  the  project  was  not  carried  out.  In  1878 
the  superintendent,  so  moved  by  a  sense  of 
duty  to  the  children,  and  realizing  the  neces- 
sity of  enlarged  facilities  for  their  comfort,  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  procure  a  plan  for  a 
room  for  their  use.  Instead  the  committee  sub- 
mitted a  plan  for  a  building  for  the  whole 
school ;  the  result  being  the  erection  of  the 
building  which  was  dedicated  in  1881. 


10  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

Among  those  who  are  remembered  by  the 
older  members  of  the  school  for  their  faithful 
labor  of  love  in  the  early  days  of  the  school  and 
whose  work  has  brought  forth  rich  fruit,  are 
Rev.  Thomas  J.  LeMay,  for  more  than  twenty 
years  superintendent  of  the  school ;  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Felton,  assistant  superintendent;  Samuel 
II.  Young,  superintendent  from  1850  to  1866; 
Misses  Susan  and  Emma  White,  Miss  Corinna 
LeMay,  John  C.  Palmer,  Mrs.  Lucy  B.  Evans, 
Ann  Augusta  Young,  afterwards  Mrs.  Holden ; 
William  W.  Holden,  Robert  W.  Best,  Donald 
W.  Bain,  Samuel  C.  White,  II.  A.  Gudger,  D. 
S.  Waitt,  Miss  Louisa  M.  Hill,  who  devoted 
forty-seven  years  to  the  instruction  of  classes 
for  women  and  children ;  T.  H.  Selby,  for  more 
than  twenty  years  president  of  the  Sunday 
School  Society ;  William  Hill  and  Ruffin 
Tucker,  Miss  Emma  E.  Hunter,  George  T. 
Cooke  and  his  wife,  Mary  Y.  Cooke,  Mrs.  Eliz- 
abeth Nixon,  Benjamin  K.  Pull  en,  Mrs.  Har- 
riet Whitaker,  Rev.  ISTuma  F.  Reid,  pastor  of 
the  church  1855-1856,  and  his  successor,  Rev. 
Joseph  H.  Wheeler;  Miss  Priscilla  McKee, 
William  M.  Brown,  Edward  B.  Thomas,  Wil- 
liam B.  Huthchings,  Misses  Fannie  and  Sallie 
Smith,  Mary  Anna  Hill.  Miss  Blanche  Fentress, 


E  dent  on  Street  Sunday  School         11 

Mrs.  Eliza  LeMay,  Mrs.  Lucinda  Tucker,  Mrs. 
Jane  S.  Young,  Mrs.  Sarah  McCauley,  Mrs. 
]STancy  Selby,  Mrs.  William  White,  Mrs.  Ann 
R.  Lipscomb,  Henry  L.  Evans,  Eldriclge  Smith, 
John  E.  Young,  William  T.  Bain,  L.  W.  Peck, 
Henry  Porter,  C.  W.  D.  Hutchings,  Mrs.  Syl- 
vester Smith,  Miss  Elizabeth  F.  Bain,  Mrs.  Eliz- 
abeth B.  Bledsoe,  Miss  Geneva  Harrison,  Miss 
Julia  Hutchings,  Rev.  W.  J.  Crowder,  John 
Myatt,  M.  A.  Bledsoe,  William  H.  Cook  and 
William  C.  Doub,  C.  H.  Belvin,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Belvin,  Miss  Eleanor  Royster  (now  Mrs.  G.  E. 
Iden),  and  Miss  Rebecca  Murray. 


12  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

DEDICATION  OF  THE  OLD  SUNDAY 
SCHOOL  BUILDING 

The  following  account  of  the  dedication  of 
the  then  new  Sunday  School  building  appeared 
in  a  daily  paper  following  that  day,  April  10, 

1881. 

On  Sunday  the  very  large  and  handsome  Sunday 
School  building  of  Edenton  Street  Methodist  Church 
was  for  the  first  time  opened  for  public  services 
and  was  formally  dedicated.  The  building  is  of 
wood  and  seats  over  six  hundred.  It  is  in  a  lot  just 
east  of  the  church  and  adjoining  it.  The  interesting 
ceremonies  attracted  a  large  audience.  At  11  o'clock 
the  Sunday  School  scholars  and  teachers  marched 
from  the  church  into  the  new  schoolroom.  The 
choir  sang  an  appropriate  anthem,  and  Rev.  A.  W. 
Mangum,  of  Chapel  Hill,  formerly  a  pastor  of  the 
church,  read  the  morning  services.  The  choir  then 
rendered  "Never  Be  Discouraged,"  after  which  prayer 
was  offered  by  Rev.  Mr.  Mangum.  The  choir  and 
congregation  sang  the  hymn  "At  the  Beautiful  Gate." 
Rev.  Mr.  Mangum  took  his  text  from  the  90th  Psalm, 
16th  verse,  and  delivered  a  sermon  of  great  power 
and  marked  beauty  of  language  and  thought.  This 
gentleman  is  considered  one  of  the  most  eloquent 
divines  in  the  State,  and  he  fully  sustained  that 
reputation  on  Sunday.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  ser- 
mon, prayer  was  offered  by  the  Rev.  A.  A.  Boshamer. 

The  Sunday  School  building  is  80  feet  long  and  40 
feet  wide,  with  an  infant  class  in  the  rear  seating 
100  children.     The  building  cost  $3,000. 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         13 

In  the  afternoon  interesting  services  were  held 
in  the  new  building.  Addresses  on  the  subject  of 
Sunday  Schools  were  delivered  by  Dr.  A.  W.  Man- 
gum,  Rev.  A.  A.  Boshamer,  D.  W.  Bain,  and  H.  A. 
Gudger. 

The  Sunday  School  at  that  date,  1881,  had 
37  officers  and  teachers  and  355  scholars.  Mr. 
W.  J.  Young,  Sr.j  was  superintendent,  having 
in  1880,  for  the  second  time,  accepted  that  of- 
fice. 

With    the    new    building    and    comfortable 

equipment  the  school  took  on  new  life,  Rev.  A. 

A.  Boshamer,  the  pastor,  making  the  following 

report  to   the    Quarterly   Conference,    May   2, 

1881,  following  the  opening  of  the  new  Sunday 

School : 

We  have  a  Sunday  School  in  flourishing  condition. 
In  fact  the  school  is  now  enjoying  a  greater  degree 
of  prosperity  than  it  has  hitherto  known.  On  yes- 
terday the  attendance  was  larger  than  we  have  ever 
had.  This  increase  of  interest  may  be  attributable 
largely  to  the  fact  that  we  have  just  entered  our  new 
Sunday  School  room,  which  is  commodious,  pretty, 
and  attractive. 

Early  in  July,  following  the  dedication  of 
the  school  in  April,  the  old  church  building  was 
torn  down  to  be  replaced  by  the  church  which 
stands  today  on  the  same  spot  as  the  old  build- 
ing.    It  was  built  under  the  superintendence  of 


14  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

Mr.  Thomas  H.  Briggs.  The  corner-stone  of 
the  new  church  was  laid  September  13,  1881, 
the  following  being  taken  from  a  daily  paper  of 
that  date : 

This  afternoon  the  cornerstone  of  the  new  Metho- 
dist church,  which  occupies  the  site  of  the  old  one, 
at  the  corner  of  Edenton  and  Dawson  streets,  will 
be  laid.  The  ceremonial  of  laying  a  cornerstone  of 
a  church  is  prescribed  in  the  Methodist  Discipline. 
Much  interest  has  been  manifested  in  this  new 
church,  and  there  has  been  a  great  liberality  shown 
in  the  way  of  contributing  towards  the  fund  of  its 
erection.  The  cost  will  be  about  $22,000.  The  build- 
ing will  be  built  of  brick,  with  a  front  on  Edenton 
street  of  55  feet.  It  will  have  in  the  center  of  the 
front  a  tower  20  feet  square,  which  will  project  18 
feet  from  the  building.  This  tower  will  be  sur- 
mounted by  a  spire,  the  total  height  of  which  will  be 
184  feet.  This  will  make  it  the  loftiest  in  the  city. 
The  church  and  the  spire  will  be  covered  with  slate. 
The  church  will  be  rectangular  in  form  and  quite 
lofty,  with  large  windows  and  heavy  buttresses.  The 
trimmings  will  be  of  galvanized  iron  and  terra  cotta. 
The  building  will  have  a  length  of  90  feet,  independ- 
ent of  the  18  feet  depth  of  the  tower. 

Also  the  following: 

Quite  a  large  number  of  persons  witnessed  the  lay- 
ing of  the  cornerstone  of  the  new  Edenton  Street 
Methodist  church  on  Edenton  street  yesterday  after- 
noon. Rev.  A.  A.  Boshamer,  the  pastor,  officiated, 
assisted  by  Revs.  Joseph  H.  Wheeler,  Prank  L.  Reid, 
R.  P.  Bumpas,  and  L.  Branson.  The  impressive 
service  prescribed  in  the  Discipline  of  the  Methodist 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         15 

Episcopal  Church,  South,  was  used.  Engraved  on  the 
side  of  the  stone  facing  the  south,  "September  13, 
1881."  The  appropriate  hymn,  No.  780,  was  sung.  A 
number  of  various  articles  were  deposited  in  the 
cavity  of  the  stone  by  Mr.  D.  W.  Bain,  secretary  of 
the  building  committee.  Under  the  direction  of  Mr. 
George  T.  Cooke,  chairman  of  the  building  committee, 
the  stone  was  placed  in  position.  The  services  were 
concluded  by  singing  the  long  metre  doxology  and 
benediction  by  Rev.  Mr.  Boshamer. 

That  was  the  last  public  act  of  Rev.  A.  A. 
Boshamer,  pastor  of  Edenton  Street  Church. 
Arising  from  a  sick  bed  to  perform  this  cere- 
mony for  his  church,  he  returned  to  it  after  the 
ceremony,  and  on  Wednesday  morning,  October 
12th,  after  an  illness  of  a  little  over  four  weeks, 
of  typhoid  fever,  he  passed  on  to  join  the  others 
who  had  preceded  him  and  some  who  had 
worked  with  him  in  Edenton  Street  church. 

On  Thursday,  at  5  o'clock  p.  m.  the  funeral 
service  was  held  in  the  Sunday  School  room, 
the  room  being  draped  in  mourning.  A  sketch 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Boshamer's  life  and  an  account  of 
the  funeral  service  was  added  to  the  sketch  of 
the  Sunday  School  written  by  Mr.  Bain,  and 
has  no  part  in  this  little  sketch  except  that  his 
name  may  be  remembered  as  one  who  gave  the 
best  he  had  to  the  service  of  our  Sunday 
School  and  church. 


16  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

In  November  following,  the  Sunday  School 
had  two  life-sized  crayon  portraits  made  to 
adorn  the  walls  of  the  Sunday  School  room ; 
one  of  the  late  Rev.  1ST.  F.  Reid,  D.D.,  a  former 
pastor,  and  the  other  of  the  late  Rev.  A.  A. 
Boshamer. 

They  have  been  familiar  faces  to  all  who  have 
come  within  the  doors  of  the  old  school  build- 
ing. They  have  looked  down  in  benediction  on 
the  people  that  have  followed  them  reaping  the 
fruits  of  their  labors. 

FIRST  MARRIAGE  IN  NEW  BUILDING 

On  the  morning  of  November  10,  1881,  a 
very  pleasant  event  occurred  in  Edenton  Street 
Sunday  School  room,  the  first  occasion  of  the 
kind  to  be  celebrated  in  the  new  building.  It 
was  an  event  in  which  Mr.  Joseph  G.  Brown, 
our  present  superintendent,  had  a  peculiar  in- 
terest and  one  to  which  he  often  refers.  It  gave 
him  a  very  tender  feeling  toward  the  old  build- 
ing. The  following  from  a.  daily  paper  of  that 
date  explains: 

Mr.  Joseph  G.  Brown  and  Miss  Alice  Burkhead,  of 
this  city,  were  married  at  Edenton  Street  Methodist 
Church  yesterday  morning  in  the  presence  of  a  large 
number  of  friends,  Rev.  Dr.  L.  S.  Burkhead,  father 
of  the  bride,  performing  the  ceremony. 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         17 


DEDICATION  OF  THE  CHURCH 

The  dedication  of  the  church  on  Sunday,  May 
22,  1887,  was  a  great  occasion  in  the  history  of 
both  church  and  Sunday  School,  the  following 
account  being  given  of  the  exercises: 

On  Sunday,  May  22,  1887,  Edenton  Street  Church 
was  dedicated  by  Bishop  W.  W.  Duncan,  of  South 
Carolina.  The  dedication  exercises  were  splendidly 
arranged  and  were  impressively  performed.  One  of 
the  largest  audiences  ever  assembled  in  a  church  in 
this  city  was  present. 

The  services  began  by  singing  the  doxology,  and 
more  than  a  thousand  voices  in  grand  thanksgiving 
chorus  sent  up  their  thanks  and  praise  to  Him  from 
whom  all  blessings  flow. 

The  dedicatory  hymn,  written  by  ex-Governor  W. 
W.  Holden,  was  grandly  rendered  by  the  vast  congre- 
gation. 

Bishop  Duncan  preached  the  dedication  sermon,  tak- 
ing his  text  from  Jeremiah  6:16.  For  one  hour  and 
fifteen  minutes  on  a  sultry  day  he  kept  the  audience 
of  1,200  people  intensely  interested,  as  he  reviewed 
Methodism  from  the  days  of  Wesley  and  Asbury.  He 
alluded  to  the  work  of  building  the  church,  the 
anxiety,  patience,  and  waiting  which  had  attended 
it  during  six  years.  He  also  alluded  to  the  fact  that 
the  building  was  paid  for,  that  there  were  no  debts 
hanging  over  the  church  to  embarrass  the  joy  and 
thankfulness  with  which  they  could  worship  therein. 
At  the  close  of  the  sermon  Judge  Walter  Clark,  for 
the  trustees,  presented  the  church,  which  was  formally 
dedicated  by  the  Bishop.  The  trustees  were  Rev.  W. 
2 


18  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

J.  W.  Crowder,  Chairman;  Joseph  G.  Brown,  Secre- 
tary; R.  T.  Gray,  Sylvester  Smith,  L.  W.  Peck,  W.  J. 
Young,  Dr.  J.  W.  McGee,  M.  A.  Bledsoe,  and  Judge 
Walter  Clark. 

In  the  afternoon  at  4  o'clock  a  grand  Sunday  School 
mass  meeting  was  held,  at  which  short  and  spicy 
addresses  were  made  by  Bishop  Duncan,  Rev.  E.  A. 
Yates,  D.D.,  and  Rev.  A.  W.  Mangum,  D.D.,  inter- 
spersed with  music  by  the  Sabbath  School. 

At  night  Rev.  John  E.  Edwards,  D.D.,  of  Virginia, 
who  was  pastor  of  the  church  forty-five  years  before, 
preached  the  sermon  from  Ephesians  2:19-22.  The 
services  were  closed  with  prayer  by  Rev.  T.  S.  Camp- 
bell, who  was  pastor  of  the  church  in  1856. 

Several  former  pastors  of  the  church  attended  the 
dedication — Rev.  John  E.  Edwards,  D.D.,  Rev.  T.  S. 
Campbell,  of  Lexington;  Rev.  A.  W.  Mangum,  D.D., 
Rev.  E.  A.  Yates,  D.D.,  Rev.  W.  S.  Black,  D.D.,  and 
Rev.  R.  0.  Burton. 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         19 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  SCHOOL 

The  progress  of  the  school  has  been  gradual 
and  while  there  has  been  no  remarkable  growth, 
jet  during  these  thirty  years,  since  the  erection 
of  a  separate  building  for  the  school,  it  has 
stood  as  a  power  for  good  in  the  community, 
many  going  forth  to  bless  those  around  them 
and  one  even  to  foreign  fields.  During  the 
second  pastorate  of  Rev.  W.  C.  Norman  the 
school  reached  a  larger  average  attendance  than 
it  had  ever  had  before.  His  zealous  and  intel- 
ligent work  among  the  children  brought  the 
school  to  a  degree  of  prosperity  never  before  at- 
tained. The  attendance  during  the  past  few 
years  has  grown  steadily,  the  old  building  being 
uncomfortably  crowded  many  times  before  it 
was  sold  and  moved  away  to  make  place  for  the 
new  building. 

At  the  opening  of  the  Sunday  School  in  the 
old  building  there  were  37  officers  and  teachers 
and  355  scholars.  Today  the  school  has  on  its 
rolls  16  officers,  2G  teachers,  and  nearly  1,000 
scholars.  It  would  be  interesting  if  the  records 
had  been  preserved  so  that  the  growth  and  his- 
tory of  the  school  could  be  traced  from  year  to 
year. 


20  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

In  May,  1881,  following  the  entrance  into  the 
new  building,  Rev.  A.  A.  Boshamer  made  the 
encouraging  report  to  the  Quarterly  Confer- 
ence, that  has  already  been  given,  attributing 
the  increase  in  interest  and  attendance  to  the 
fact  that  the  school  had  just  entered  the  new 
Sunday  School  room. 

In  June,  1882,  Dr.  E.  A.  Yates,  the  pastor, 
reported : 

The  Sunday  School  is  in  successful  operation  and 
under  the  superintendency  of  Brothers  W.  J.  Young 
and  D.  W.  Bain,  assisted  by  an  able  corps  of  teachers, 
the  school  is  accomplishing  much  good.  It  would 
be  difficult  to  find  a  school  better  organized  or  kept 
in  better  order.  The  infant  class  is  a  most  admirable 
feature  of  this  school,  and  altogether  there  is  much 
promise  of  good  to  the  church  from  this  department 
of  her  labor. 

At  the  close  of  the  conference  year,  1882,  the 
school  numbered  38  officers  and  teachers  and 
380  scholars.  In  1883  there  was  a  decrease  in 
the  number,  there  being  37  officers  and  teachers 
and  326  scholars. 

Rev.  W.  C.  iSTorman,  pastor,  made  the  follow- 
ing report  of  the  school  at  the  close  of  the  con- 
ference year  1884: 

Our  superintendent,  Bro.  W.  J.  Young,  an-1  his  as- 
sistant, Brother  D.  W.  Bain,  aided  by  a  faithful  corps 
of  officers   and   teachers,  have  served   faithfully  and 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         21 

efficiently  in  this  important  work  during  the  confer- 
ence year  that  is  now  closing.  We  need  a  few  more 
zealous  male  teachers  to  look  after  the  boys  and  young 
men.  With  this  improvement  the  Sunday  School  of 
Edenton  Street  Church  would  take  still  higher  ground 
in  useful  work  for  the  cause  of  the  Master.  The 
school  numbers  300  scholars  and  39  officers  and 
teachers. 

In  1885  there  were  39  officers  and  teachers 
and  350  scholars.  There  was  a  decided  in- 
crease in  the  enrollment  of  the  school  during 
the  next  two  years,  the  roll  of  the  school  for 
1887  showing  a  total  membership  of  574.  The 
annual  report  of  the  secretary  of  the  school,  Mr. 
D.  S.  Waitt,  for  1888,  showed  there  were  eleven 
officers,  24  teachers  and  556  scholars  enrolled. 

During  the  next  few  years  the  school  kept 
steadily  on  in  its  work.  There  was  some  fall- 
ing off  in  numbers,  however,  during  this  time, 
for  in  1894  the  pastor,  Rev.  John  1ST.  Cole,  re- 
ported the  number  of  officers  and  teachers  in  the 
school  forty;  the  number  of  scholars  450.  In 
1895  there  were  41  officers  and  teachers,  470 
scholars.  In  1896  the  pastor,  Rev.  W.  C.  Nor- 
man, made  the  following  report  to  the  third 
Quarterly  Conference : 

There  has  been  during  the  past  quarter  a  steady 
increase  in  the  prosperity  of  our  Sabbath  School. 
The  school  has  now  perhaps  the  largest  attendance 


22  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

in  its  history.  The  infant  class  room  has  been  much 
improved,  having  been  newly  carpeted  and  supplied 
with  kindergarten  chairs.  An  intermediate  class  has 
been  organized,  which  promises  to  be  of  value  to  the 
school.  Number  of  officers  and  teachers,  44;  number 
of  scholars,  560. 

In  1807  there  was  a  decrease  in  membership, 
the  number  falling  back  to,  40  officers  and  teach- 
ers and  490  scholars.  In  1898  the  superin- 
tendent, Mr.  W.  J.  Young,  Sr.,  declining  re- 
election, his  name  was  withdrawn,  and  at  the 
first  Quarterly  Conference,  1899,  Mr.  Joseph 
G.  Brown  was  elected.  The  school  numbered 
37   officers   and   teachers   and  449    scholars   in 

1898.  At  the  close  of  Mr.  Norman's  pastorate, 

1899,  he  made  the  following  report  of  the  work 
of  the  school : 

Our  Sunday  School  has  for  many  years  been  a 
mighty  factor  in  building  up  the  church.  Out  of  its 
ranks  the  membership  has  from  time  to  time  been 
enlarged,  and  eternity  alone  can  show  the  good  that 
has  been  accomplished  through  the  constant  labors 
of  the  godly  men  and  women  who  have  wrought  so 
faithfully  in  this  sphere  of  Christian  work.  The 
school  is  in  a  flourishing  and  growing  condition.  The 
average  attendance  is  now  larger  than  it  has  ever 
been  at  any  time  in  the  history  of  the  school.  During 
the  year  a  new  infant  class  room  and  a  library  room 
have  been  added,  so  that  we  now  have  the  most  com- 
modious and  convenient  Sunday  School  accommoda- 
tions in  the  State.  The  school  numbers  573  scholars, 
48  officers  and  teachers. 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         23 

Rev.  G.  F.  Smith,  in  1901,  made  the  follow- 
ing report  of  the  work  of  the  Sunday  School : 

The  attendance  at  Sunday  School,  which  is  larger 
than  last  year,  has  almost  reached  500.  There  are 
more  than  forty  officers  and  teachers,  and  their  at- 
tendance is  unusually  regular.  Such  variety  is  given 
the  exercises  that  there  is  not  a  dull  moment  from 
the  opening  to  the  close  of  the  school.  One  hundred 
dollars  was  raised  during  the  year  for  the  Orphanage. 
One  class  furnished  a  room  at  the  Orphanage  and 
many  garments  for  children  were  made  by  different 
members  of  the  school,  and  one  orphan  is  supported 
by  it. 

In  1903  Rev.  George  F.  Smith  reported  the 
resignation  of  Mr.  J.  G.  Brown,  who  had  been 
the  very  faithful  and  efficient  superintendent 
of  the  Sunday  School.  Mr.  W.  J.  Young,  Jr., 
was  elected  superintendent.  The  school  was 
reported  to  be  in  good  condition  in  every  way. 
By  the  close  of  the  conference  year  the  mem- 
bership had  reached  500. 

In  1904  Rev.  R.  F.  Bumpas  reported : 

The  Sunday  School  is,  I  believe,  making  some  ad- 
vancement in  its  work.  The  work  of  some  Bible 
classes,  recently  organized,  is  worthy  of  special  men- 
tion, as  the  Norman  class  and  the  Young  Men's  class. 
The  motto  of  the  school  is:  "All  the  Church  in  the 
Sunday  School  and  All  the  Sunday  School  in  the 
Church."  Number  of  officers  and  teachers  reported, 
40;  scholars  enrolled  during  the  year,  750. 


24  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

In  1906  Rev.  E.  F.  Bumpas  mentions  the 
fact  in  his  report  that  "the  Sunday  School, 
which  is  one  of  the  best  in  North  Carolina,  has 
outgrown  its  quarters  and  has  on  foot  a  project 
for  erecting  a  new  Sunday  School  building." 

The  number  of  officers  and  teachers  for  the 
year  was  39,  number  of  scholars  750.  In  1908 
there  were  enrolled  forty-three  officers  and 
teachers  and  690  scholars.  In  1909  the  num- 
ber reached  45  officers  and  teachers  and  700 
scholars.  In  1910  there  was  a  slight  increase 
in  membership,  44  officers  and  teachers  and  756 
scholars. 

Owing  to  the  inconvenience  of  meeting  in 
the  church  and  the  more  or  less  disorganized 
state  of  the  school  there  has  been  no  decided  in- 
crease in  the  enrollment  during  the  past  year. 


Joseph  G.  Bkown,  Superintendent 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         25 

SPECIAL  OCCASIONS 

This  school  has  always  been  a  faithful  ob- 
server of  special  occasions  and  festivals  days. 
Easter,  Children's  Day,  the  Fall  Kally  or  Har- 
vest Festival,  Thanksgiving,  and  Christmas, 
are  annually  observed  with  interesting  exer- 
cises. The  programs  of  music  and  readings,  in 
which  the  little  folks  always  have  their  own 
share,  make  these  occasions  memorable  ones. 

The  social  side  of  life  is  not  neglected  either, 
for  with  the  return  of  the  Agricultural  and 
Mechanical  College  boys  and  other  students  to 
the  city  the  fall  work  begins  with  the  aA.  &  M. 
Reception,"  as  it  is  commonly  called.  For 
many  years  these  have  been  happy  events,  to  be 
looked  forward  to  with  pleasure  especially  by 
the  young  people  in  the  school. 

The  Sunday  afternoon  "singing"  used  to  be 
a  time  of  special  enjoyment  in  the  old  school, 
many  of  the  records  bearing  notes  of  the^e 
gatherings,  which  were  notable  and  pleasant  fea- 
tures, the  room  oftentimes  being  filled.  The 
older  members  of  the  school  today  look  back  to 
those  times  with  deepest  pleasure. 

There  is  nothing,  however,  connected  with  the 
social  times  of  the  school  that  brings  quite  the 
thrill  of  pleasure  that  the  first  announcement 


26  E dent  on  Street  Sunday  School 

of  the  Sunday  School  picnic  does.  The  first 
warm  spring  Sunday  brings  the  thought  of  it, 
and  usually  some  time  in  May  the  lunch  baskets 
are  packed,  a  train  is  chartered  and  the  school 
hies  away  to  some  pleasant  picnic  grounds  where 
a  day  is  spent  in  the  open. 

As  pleasant  as  are  the  picnics  of  the  present 
it  is  doubtful  if  they  contain  any  more  of  real 
enjoyment  than  did  those  Union  picnics  of  by- 
gone times,  when  on  the  Fourth  of  July,  Eden- 
ton Street  Sunday  School  and  the  other  Sun- 
day Schools  of  the  city  gathered  in  the  Capitol 
Square  to  enjoy  a  feast  together. 

Mr.  Bain  gives  the  following  interesting  ac- 
count of  one  of  these  occasions : 

What  cherished  reminiscences  are  associated  with 
those  patriotic  and  festive  scenes.  We  recall  the 
marshaling  of  the  forces  in  Union  Square,  as  each 
school  advanced  to  its  place  in  line,  with  a  waving 
standard  in  its  front  bearing  an  inscription  of  loyalty 
to  the  Prince  of  Peace;  then  the  line  of  march,  as  the 
column  moved  along  the  streets  amidst  an  admiring 
throng,  like  veterans  ready  for  the  conflict  and  eager 
to  rout  an  army  or  take  a  citadel ;  then  the  services  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church  where,  under  the  inspiring 
utterances  of  the  speaker,  the  hearts  of  the  lathers 
were  set  aglow  with  patriotic  fervor,  as  the  children 
whiled  away  the  moments  in  pleasing  anticipation  of 
the  scenes  yet  to  be  enacted;  and  then  the  mingling 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         27 

of  happy  hearts  at  the  respective  festal  boards.  Could 
we  who  were  participants  in  those  most  cherished  of 
youthful  pleasures  live  them  over  again  we  could 
wish  to  be 

"Though  the  years  onward  are  stealing, 
Ever  a  child." 


28  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

THE  PASTORS 

No  history  of  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 
would  be  complete  without  a  word  of  tribute  to 
the  work  of  the  pastors  who  have  served  the 
church  and  Sunday  School  during  all  the  years 
of  her  glorious  history.  All  of  them  left  the 
stamp  of  their  work  on  the  Sunday  School,  la- 
boring in  this  department  of  the  church  as 
much  as  they  had  opportunity. 

The  name  of  Rev.  Bennett  T.  Blake  should 
always  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance  by 
Edenton  Street  Sunday  School  as  its  founder 
and  father.  No  other  work  during  his  ministry 
so  entitles  him  to  remembrance  as  this  act  of 
his,  in  1827,  of  separating  the  Methodist  Sun- 
day School  from  the  Union  Sunday  School. 

Mr.  Donald  Bain's  historical  sketch  of  the 
school  preserves  a  list  of  those  who  followed 
Mr.  Blake  up  until  1881,  the  time  when  his 
sketch  was  written.  The  complete  list  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  sketch. 

During  the  30  years  since  that  time  the  Sun- 
day School  has  been  greatly  blessed  in  the  work 
of  her  pastors.  All  have  labored  untiringly 
for  her  interests,  striving  at  all  points  to  influ- 
ence  and  win  for  the  Master  the  young  life 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         29 

of  the  church.  Their  names  are  familiar  and 
most  of  them  are  remembered  with  pleasure  by 
the  adult  members  of  the  school  today.  Three 
of  them  have  finished  their  work  here,  Dr.  E. 
A.  Yates,  Eev.  J.  H.  Cordon,  and  Rev.  W.  C. 
Norman. 

REV.  W.  C.  NORMAN 

Eev.  W.  C.  Norman  seemed  especially  to  be- 
long to  Edenton  Street  church.  Twice  he 
served  as  pastor,  from  1884  to  1888,  and  again 
from  1896  to  1900.  During  these  terms  as 
pastor  he  so  closely  identified  himself  with  all 
branches  of  work  of  the  church  that  he  made 
for  himself  a  large  place  in  the  hearts  of  the 
people.  A  little  more  than  two  years  after 
the  close  of  his  pastorate  at  Edenton  Street 
church,  in  1902,  he  was  called  home  to  his 
Father.  From  the  walls  of  the  school  his 
kindly,  genial  face  has  smiled  down  upon  the 
people  he  loved  and  one  of  the  organized  classes, 
the  class  that  he  taught,  has  been  named  the 
Norman  Class. 

Quoting  from  the  resolutions  presented  at 
the  Quarterly  Conference  at  the  close  of  his 
pastorate  in  1899 : 

Under  his  wise  leadership  the  church  was  built  up 
and  all  its  interests  advanced.     His  zealous  and  in- 


30  E dent  on  Street  Sunday  School 

telligent  work  among  the  children  has  brought  the 
Sunday  School  to  a  degree  of  prosperity  never  before 
attained,  and  his  watchful  interest  in  all  the  organi- 
zations has  maintained  their  efficiency  and  usefulness. 
The  gracious  influence  of  his  godly  life  will  always 
linger  with  us.  Like  Christ,  whom  he  loved  and 
served,  he  went  about  doing  good. 

The  others  in  their  own  way  left  their  im- 
press upon  the  school,  which  remembers  their 
labors  with  grateful  appreciation  and  rejoices 
that  they  still  labor  among  us  in  the  bounds  of 
the  conference,  still  keeping  in  touch  with  the 
school  and  feeling  an  interest  in  its  prosperity. 

REV.  H.  M.  NORTH 

From  the  time  that  Rev.  Harry  M.  North 
came  to  Edenton  Street  Church  as  its  pastor, 
he  became  closely  identified  with  every  depart- 
ment of  the  church's  work  to  the  end  that  every 
organization  has  been  quickened  and  awakened 
to  greater  efforts.  Back  of  them  has  been  the 
ready  sympathy  and  encouragement  of  the  pas- 
tor. He  has  won  the  confidence  and  respect  of 
the  young  folk  and  to  the  old  people  and  the 
shut-ins  his  many  little  acts  of  kindness  and 
remembrance  have  brought  gladness  and  cheer. 

No  department  of  the  church  has  benefited 
more  from  Mr.  North's  ministry  than  the  Sun- 
day School.     He  came  when  plans  for  the  erec- 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         31 

tion  of  a  new  building  were  occupying  the  at- 
tention of  the  whole  church.  He  took  up  the 
work  with  ready  zeal  and  has  striven  in  every 
way  to  advance  it.  A  great  part  of  the  burden 
of  it  has  fallen  upon  his  shoulders,  and  he 
has  not  failed  the  school  in  the  least  detail. 

The  greatest  passion  of  our  present  pastor  is 
the  salvation  of  souls,  but  he  has  been  equally 
faithful  in  the  more  arduous  features.  His 
practical  plans  have  aided  largely  in  raising 
the  money  necessary  to  carry  on  the  building. 
It  can  truly  be  said  that  no  pastor  has  worked 
more  untiringly  for  the  interests  of  the  Sunday 
School.  As  teacher  of  the  Gorman  Class  he  has 
been  actively  at  work.  Last  fall,  recognizing 
the  need  for  trained  teachers,  he  organized  his 
teacher-training  class  of  forty  or  more,  meeting 
with  them  every  Friday  night.  They  will  soon 
be  ready,  through  his  teaching,  for  larger  and 
better  service  in  the  Sunday  School  as  trained 
and  efficient  workers. 

The  latest  work  Mr.  North  has  undertaken  is 
the  organization  of  the  boys  of  the  Sunday 
School  into  two  leagues.  The  object  is  to  train 
them  for  future  service  to  the  church,  Sunday 
School  and  Epworth  League.  For  some  time 
there  has  been  no  organization  of  the  boys  of 


32  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

the  Sunday  School.  In  thus  meeting  this  long 
felt  need  Mr.  North  is  rendering  one  of  the 
greatest  services  possible  to  the  church.  His 
heart  is  very  much  in  the  undertaking  and  the 
boys  have  responded  gladly  and  willingly  to  his 
call. 

Our  people  rejoice  that  Mr.  North  is 
still  with  us  to  see  the  fulfillment  of  his  labors 
and  to  join  with  the  school  in  a  song  of  thanks- 
giving on  this  glad  day.  The  Sunday  School 
at  Edenton  Street  belongs  to  him,  and  he  be- 
longs to  the  school  in  a  peculiar  way,  for  they 
are  bound  to  each  other  by  the  closest  ties,  and 
as  the  years  bring  to  the  school  the  ripened 
fruits  of  his  labors,  these  ties  will  be  strength- 
ened. 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         33 
WORKERS,  PAST  AND  PRESENT 


JOSEPH  G.  BROWN 

This  is  in  reality  a  jubilee  occasion  for  our 
superintendent,  Mr.  Joseph  G.  Brown,  for  just 
fifty  years  ago  in  April  he  became  a  member  of 
Edenton  Street  Sunday  School.  One  might 
doubt  the  fact,  had  he  not  so  proudly  proclaimed 
it,  for  he  seems  to  have  discovered  the  fountain 
of  eternal  youth.  Just  a  little  fellow,  so  small 
that  he  had  to  be  lifted  to  his  seat  on  the  bench, 
he  first  began  his  Sunday  School  life  at  Central 
Church,  then  known  as  Person  Street  church. 
His  first  teacher,  after  becoming  a  member  of 
Edenton  Street  Sunday  School,  just  fifty  years 
ago,  was  Miss  Sallie  Smith.  A  little  picture 
card  was  her  reward  for  a  good  lesson,  and 
those  which  he  received  from  her  hands  are 
among  the  things  which  he  likes  to  remember. 
His  teacher  has  gone  to  her  Master,  but  her 
work  is  not  yet  done,  for  her  pupil  is  still  bless- 
ing the  Sunday  School  and  church  with  the 
seed  which  she  sowed. 

Mr.  Brown  became  identified  with  the  work 
of  the  Sunday  School  as  pupil,  teacher,  secre- 
tary, assistant  superintendent,  and  superintend- 
3 


34  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

ent.  He  lias  been  ready  and  willing  to  fill  any 
position  that  would  be  for  the  advancement  of 
the  work  of  the  school.  As  a  teacher  he  filled 
that  position  as  few  others  can.  Among  the 
adult  members  of  the  church  today  are  some  of 
the  women,  who  were  among  the  original  six 
girls  who,  graduating  from  the  primary  depart- 
ment, formed  his  first  class.  From  these  few 
the  number  grew  to  about  fifty  young  ladies, 
some  of  the  six  remaining  there  until  they  were 
married  and  left  the  Sunday  School.  It  was  a 
class  in  which  all  loved  to  be  present,  the  les- 
son under  Mr.  Brown  being  a  time  of  pleasure 
and  profit. 

Secretary  of  the  school,  and  twice  assistant 
superintendent,  Mr.  Brown  brought  to  those 
positions  the  same  faithfulness  and  capability 
that  characterized  him  as  a  teacher,  but  it  is  as 
superintendent  that  he  has  been  the  greatest 
force  in  the  school.  In  1898,  Mr.  W.  J.  Young, 
Sr.,  declining  a  nomination  for  this  of- 
fice, Mr.  Brown  was  elected  to  succeed  him. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1903,  af- 
ter serving  as  superintendent  four  years,  Mr. 
Brown  resigned  to  take  up  the  work  of 
teacher  again.  Mr.  W.  J.  Young,  Jr.,  suc- 
ceeded him,   serving  faithfully   and  efficiently 


PASTORS 


1.  Rev.  Sidney  D.  Bumpas,  1842-1843 

2.  Rev.  Thomas  S.  Campbell,  1846 

;i.  Rev.  Robert  O.  Burton,  1847-1848 

4.  Rev.  Rufus  T.  Heflin,  1849-1850 

5.  Rev.  Peter  Doub,  1851-1852 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         35 

for  two  years.  In  1905  Mr.  Brown  again 
assumed  the  leadership  of  the  school.  Today 
under  his  direction  and  guiding  hand  the  school 
has  come  to  the  gladdest  day  in  its  history,  and 
looks  forward  to  a  golden  future,  with  Mr. 
Brown  still  at  the  helm. 

As  president  of  a  bank,  a  man  of  affairs,  and 
a  public  spirited  citizen,  Mr.  Brown  has  yet 
found  time  to  make  the  Sunday  School  a  chief 
interest  in  his  life.  He  has  traveled  and  ob- 
served and  studied  the  methods  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful Sunday  Schools  in  the  country,  and  he 
intends  that  Edenton  Street  shall  become  the 
best  Sunday  School  that  it  is  possible  to 
make  it. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Brown  had  the  vision 
of  the  new  home,  finely  furnished  and  equipped, 
into  which  the  school  would  some  day  come,  and 
none  has  labored  harder  than  he  for  the  accom- 
plishment of  that  dream.  His  personality  dom- 
inates the  school,  inspiring  both  teachers  and 
pupils  with  his  enthusiasm  and  life.  His 
ready  wit,  keenness  of  mental  vision  and  tact 
never  fail  to  make  the  Sunday  School  hour  an 
enjoyable  service.  The  school,  in  love  and 
sympathy,  is  ready  to  clasp  hands  with  him  and 
push  forward  to  greater  heights. 


36  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

WILLIAM  JEFFERSON  YOUNG 

For  more  than  half  a  century  the  name  of 
William  Jefferson  Young,  Sr.,  stood  at  the  head 
of  the  roll  of  workers  of  Edenton  Street 
Church.  As  superintendent,  teacher,  or  in 
whatever  capacity  he  could  serve  the  school,  he 
was  always  found  ready  to  advance  the  cause  of 
his  Master.  Early  Monday  morning,  Febru- 
ary 12,  1912,  he  heard  the  voice  of  Jesus  say: 

Come  unto  me  and  rest, 

Lay  down,  thou   weary  one,  lay  down 

Thy  head  upon  my  breast, 

and  sweetly  and  quietly  as  a  little  child  he  pil- 
lowed his  head,  grown  white  in  his  Master's 
vineyard,  on  that  broad  breast  that  had  never 
failed  him,  and  went  to  his  Father  to  hear  his 
"well  done"  and  to  enter  his  rest,  the  rest  that 
remaineth  to  the  faithful.    . 

There  is  probably  not  a  member  of  the  school 
that  can  remember  the  time  when  Mr.  Young 
was  not  a  worker  there.  It  is  hard  to  think  of 
the  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School  of  the  future 
without  him.  As  Rev.  John  ]ST.  Cole  fittingly 
said  in  his  beautiful  tribute  to  him: 

The  woodman  has  come  into  our  forest  and  felled 
one  of  the  finest  and  tallest  cedars,  and  the  entire 
landscape  is  changed.    The  church  will  seem  another 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         37 

church   without   this  venerable   father,   brother,   and 
friend. 

Just  as  the  school  was  alive  and  looking  for- 
ward with  hopeful  expectation  to  a  larger  field 
of  usefulness  in  the  new  building,  Mr.  Young 
laid  down  his  work  and  went  home  to  his 
Father.  His  pastor,  Eev.  H.  M.  North,  lik- 
ened him  to  Enoch,  who  walked  with  God  until 
he  got  nearer  to  God's  house  than  to  his  own 
and  just  went  on  until  now  he  walks  with  God 
there. 

Mr.  Young  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  in 
August,  1832.  For  thirty  years  he  was  superin- 
tendent of  and  teacher  in  the  State  School  for 
the  Blind.  He  was  actively  connected  with 
the  Sunday  School  and  church,  in  May,  1866, 
succeeding  his  brother,  Mr.  Samuel  H.  Young, 
as  superintendent.  Under  his  administration 
the  school  reached  a  greater  height  of  numerical 
prosperity  than  ever  before,  its  rolls  numbering 
in  1873  nearly  400.  In  1877,  he  retired  to  the 
less  prominent  position  of  teacher,  but  was 
again  called  to  the  head  of  the  school  in  Octo- 
ber, 1880.  This  position  he  held,  sowing  for  a 
rich  harvest  of  future  reaping,  until  1898,  when 
he  declined  reelection  and  was  succeeded  by  Mr. 
Joseph  G.  Brown. 


38  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

While  retiring  from  the  leadership  of  the 
school,  Mr.  Young  in  no  way  gave  up  active 
service,  but  fell  back  into  the  ranks  of  teachers, 
accepting  the  least  service  for  the  school  as  a 
pleasure.  Edenton  Street  Church  rather  re- 
joices in  his  life  of  service  than  mourns  at  his 
death.  His  portrait,  which  will  be  presented  to 
the  school  by  some  of  the  members,  was  shown 
to  him  before  he  died,  so  that  he  might  know 
the  loving  appreciation  in  which  he  was  held. 

The  funeral  service,  which  was  held  at  3 
o'clock,  Tuesday  afternoon,  February  13th,  in 
the  church,  was  attended  by  many  of  the  Sunday 
School  scholars.  Rev.  John  1ST.  Cole,  superin- 
tendent of  the  Methodist  Orphanage,  a  former 
pastor  and  a  devoted  friend  of  Mr.  Young,  and 
his  pastor,  Rev.  H.  M.  North,  both  paid  beauti- 
ful tributes  to  his  memory.  Mr.  Cole  spoke  of 
his  many  years  of  labor,  all  filled  with  service 
to  his  God.  He  was  a  man,  whose  course  was 
steady,  vigorous  and  hopeful.  One  passion 
dominated  every  other  affection,  his  love  for 
Christ. 

His  pastor  said : 

As  a  steward  he  was  found  faithful.  For  half  a 
century  within  the  bounds  of  his  own  church  he  was 
characterized  by  faithfulness  and  loyalty.  He  ac- 
cepted his  work  without  complaint,  considering  it  a 


E dent  on  Street  Sunday  School         39 

pleasure  rather  than  a  burden.  The  church  of  Christ 
was  large  enough  for  all  of  his  activity.  He  gave 
without  stint.  He  was  an  example  to  men  by  his 
fidelity  to  citizenship,  and  we  can  not  tell  today  what 
he  was  worth  to  the  church.  He  gave  it  the  best  he 
had  and  set  on  it  the  seal  of  his  manhood.  No  man 
asked  how  he  died  because  all  knew  he  died  as  he 
lived,  "a  man  of  God."  If  his  heart  could  be  disclosed 
you  would  find  in  it  the  name  of  the  church  he  loved. 

Servant  of  God,  well  done! 

Thy  glorious  warfare  past; 
The  battle's  fought,  the  race  is  won, 

And  thou  art  crowned  at  last; 
Of  all  thy  heart's  desire 

Triumphantly  possessed ; 
Lodged  by  the  ministerial  choir 

In   thy   Redeemer's  breast. 

0  happy,  happy  soul! 

In  ecstacies  of  praise, 
Long  as  eternal  ages  roll, 

Thou  seest  thy  Saviour's  face. 
Redeemed  from  earth  and  pain, 

Ah!   when  shall  we  ascend, 
And  all  in  Jesus'  presence  reign 

With  our  translated  friend? 

MRS.  W.  J.  YOUNG 

In  Miss  Sarah  Ellen  Cook,  of  Chelsea,  Ver- 
mont, whom  Mr.  Young  married  in  1861,  he 
found  a  worthy  helpmeet  and  a  great  inspira- 
tion to  him  in  his  Christian  life.  They  were 
evenly  yoked  together,  for  she  was  always  active 
in  the  work  of  the  church.     As  teacher,  leader 


40  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

of  the  singing  and  organist,  her  life  was  full  of 
service.  Perhaps  as  superintendent  of  the  in- 
fant class  her  life  counted  for  the  most,  and 
there  are  those  who  are  carrying  on  the  work 
of  the  church  today  in  whose  hearts  she  sowed 
the  germ  of  truth.  Although  she  finished  her 
work  here  nineteen  years  ago  the  school  remem- 
bers it  with  deep  appreciation.  She  died  Jan- 
uary 27,  1893,  and  until  the  time  of  her  last  ill- 
ness she  continued  superintendent  of  the  infant 
class. 

MISS  MARY  PESCUD 

In  the  foreign  fields  of  Brazil  today  there  is 
one  whose  heart  turns  with  love  and  rejoicing 
to  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School.  She  no  doubt 
pictures  in  her  mind  the  scenes  being  enacted 
here  today  and  prays  God's  blessing  on  her  old 
school,  the  one  from  which  she  went  forth  to 
take  the  message  of  salvation  to  the  men  and 
women  in  Brazil.  Although  Miss  Mary  Pes- 
cud  is  present,  only  in  spirit,  today  the  school 
does  not  forget  its  absent  member,  who  is  doing 
a  glorious  work  teaching  in  a  school  for  girls 
at  Petropolis,  Brazil,  and  bringing  the  light  of 
salvation  to  many  who  are  in  darkness. 

For  many  years  Miss  Mary  Pescud  was  a 
faithful  teacher  in  the  Sundav  Scliool,  having 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         41 

charge  of  a  class  of  young  ladies,  from  which 
has  grown  the  Philathea  Class.  From  a  girl 
her  heart  was  in  the  missionary  work,  her  one 
aim  being  to  go  to  those  who  knew  not  Jesus 
Christ.  After  a  year  spent  in  the  Scarritt  Bible 
and  Training  School,  in  Kansas  City,  she  sailed 
in  September,  1898,  to  take  up  her  work  in 
Brazil.  After  four  years  there  she  returned 
home,  a  year  sooner  than  she  expected  to,  on  ac- 
count of  her  health.  A  rest  of  two  years  sent 
her  back  to  her  work  strengthened  and  re- 
freshed. Her  period  of  five  years  passed 
swiftly,  sending  her  home  again  for  a  year's 
vacation.  She  came  so  well  and  happy  and  full 
of  zeal  for  her  work  that  it  was  a  privilege  to 
have  her  in  the  Sunday  School.  It  has  been 
two  years  since  she  returned  again  to  Brazil. 
Her  friends  frequently  have  good  reports  of  her 
work  there.  At  the  expiration  of  her  five  years 
she  will  return  again  for  a  year.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  school  look  forward  with  pleasure 
to  that  time. 

MRS.  MINNIE  MOSELEY 

Many  in  the  school  today  do  not  personally 
remember  Mrs.  Minnie  Wilkinson  Moseley, 
who  more  than  eighteen  years  ago  was  one  of 
the  most  active   and  helpful   members   of   the 


42  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

school.  As  a  teacher  of  a  class  of  girls  and  in 
every  department  of  church  work,  she  was  a 
most  efficient  helper.  She  died  June  29,  1894. 
Her  picture,  presented  to  the  school  shortly  af- 
ter her  death  by  her  husband,  Mr.  T.  B.  Mose- 
ley,  has  recalled  during  these  years  the  story 
of  her  work. 

MRS.  LAURA  BOBBITT 

One  of  the  most  enthusiastic  workers  the 
school  has  ever  had  was  Mrs.  Laura  F.  Bobbitt. 
Her  activities  were  not  confined  to  any  one  de- 
partment of  the  work  of  the  school  or  church, 
but  her  influence  and  active  service  touched  it 
at  all  points.  Her  charming  personality  domi- 
nated every  social  gathering,  affecting  all  with 
the  happiness  of  her  nature.  Her  beautiful 
voice  was  devoted  to  the  work  of  the  Master, 
and  many  a  service  at  Edenton  Street  has  been 
enriched  by  her  songs.  The  granddaughter  of 
Rev.  Bennett  T.  Blake,  the  founder  of  the 
school,  her  heart  was  naturally  in  all  that  con- 
cerned the  welfare  of  the  school.  Mrs.  Bob- 
bitt is  now  living  at  Indianapolis,  Indiana. 
Her  active  connection  with  the  school  was  sev- 
ered a  number  of  years  ago,  but  it  is  pleasant  to 
think  of  her  as  always  at  heart  a  member  of 
Edenton  Street  Sunday  School. 


PASTORS 

1.  Rev.  William  E.  Pell,  1853-1854 

2.  Rev.  Joseph  H.  Wheeler,  1857 

3.  Rev.  L.  L.  Hendren,  1858-1859 

4.  Rev.  H.  T.  Hudson,  1866-1869 

5.  Rev.  A.  W.  Manqum,  1872-1875 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         43 

"ONLY  REMEMBERED" 

Many  of  us  had  a  very  tender  love  for  the 
old  Sunday  School  building,  not  only  for  what 
it  has  stood  for  in  our  lives,  but  for  the  friend- 
ships formed  there  with  men  and  women  who 
are  not  here  today.  Closely  associated  with 
it  are  the  forms  and  faces  of  many  we  knew 
and  loved.  Some  of  them  dropped  seeds  into 
our  lives  that  found  the  fertile  spots,  some  we 
remember  only  for  their  smile  and  words  of 
greeting.  Some  we  learned  to  look  for  always 
at  their  post  on  Sunday  morning.  Some  of 
them  were  with  us  only  for  a  day,  passing  on 
to  other  fields  of  labor.  Some,  when  we  knew 
them,  were  finishing  up  a  long  life  of  service 
and  they  have  gone  to  their  Father's  home 
above. 

From  the  very  foundations  of  the  new  build- 
ing the  old  school  comes  back  to  claim  a  share 
of  the  present.  May  the  memory  of  the  old 
gray  building,  with  its  days  of  struggle  and 
its  days  of  rejoicing,  and  the  faces  of  the  past 
grow  brighter  as  the  years  bring  us  greater 
prosperity.  Many  who  rejoice  in  this  day  of 
enlargement  will  hold  the  old  house  ever  in  fond 
remembrance. 


44  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

Without  the  records  of  the  school  for  the  past 
thirty  years  it  is  impossible  to  give  a  list  of 
those  whom  we  would  remember,  and  lest  some 
be  forgotten  I  have  refrained  from  mentioning 
any.  They  faithfully  performed  their  work 
in  their  day  and  passed  on  to  have  their  places 
filled  by  other  laborers.  Time  has  erased  the 
names  and  faces  of  many  of  them  from  earthly 
remembrance,  but  what  does  it  matter  since  the 
Master  of  all  remembers  and  rewards  ? 

Like  a  half  forgotten  strain,  an  echo  from 
the  past,  come  the  words  of  an  old  song,  sung 
by  one  whose  beautiful  voice  often  brought 
pleasure  and  blessing  to  the  school : 

Fading  away  like  the  stars  of  the  morning, 
Losing  their  light  in  the  glorious  sun — 

Thus  would  we  pass  from  the  earth  and  its  toiling, 
Only  remembered  by  what  we  have  done. 

Shall  we  be  missed,  tho  by  others  succeeded; 

Reaping  the  fields  we  in  springtime  have  sown? 
No,  for  the  sowers  may  pass  from  their  labors, 

Only  remembered  by  what  they  have  done. 

Only  the  truth  that  in  life  we  have  spoken, 
Only  the  seed  that  on  earth  we  have  sown; 

These  shall  pass  onward  when  we  are  forgotten, 
Fruits  of  the  harvest  and  what  we  have  done. 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         45 

Oh,  when  the  Saviour  shall  make  up  his  jewels, 
"When  the  bright  crowns  of  rejoicing  are  won, 

Then  shall  His  weary  and  faithful  disciples 
All  be  remembered  by  what  they  have  done. 

Only  remembered,  only  remembered, 

Only  remembered  by  what  we  have  done; 

Thus  would  we  pass  from  the  earth  and  its  toiling, 
Only  remembered  by  what  we  have  done. 


46  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

THE  "INFANT"  CLASS 

The  greatest  asset  of  Edenton  Street  Church 
has  been  the  young  people,  not  only  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Sunday  School  but  the  little  folks 
of  the  primary  department.  The  "infant"  class 
has  been  from  the  beginning  the  very  founda- 
tion of  the  church.  From  its  ranks,  trained 
from  very  childhood  to  Christian  work,  have 
come  up  the  men  and  women,  leaders  in  the 
work  of  the  church  today. 

In  1878,  Mr.  Bain  tells  us  in  his  history,  the 
superintendent,  Mr.  W.  J.  Young,  Sr.,  "moved 
by  a  sense  of  duty  to  the  children,  and  realizing 
the  necessity  for  enlarged  facilities  for  their 
comfort  and  instruction,  appointed,  with  the 
approval  of  the  school,  a  committee  to  procure 
a  plan  for  a  room  for  their  use."  After  ma- 
ture deliberation  the  committee  submitted  the 
plan  for  the  Sunday  School  building  instead, 
which  was  sanctioned  by  the  school.  Thus  it 
was  the  need  of  the  children  in  the  primary 
department  that  finally  brought  about  the  erec- 
tion of  the  Sunday  School  building.  An  infant 
class  room  was  a  part  of  the  building,  being 
separated  from  the  main  school  by  sliding 
doors.     It  was  fitted  with  raised  circular  seats. 


E dent 071  Street  Sunday  School         47 

In  1882  Dr.  A.  E.  Yates  said: 

The  infant  class  is  a  most  admirable  feature  of  the 
school,  and  altogether  there  is  much  premise  of  good 
to  the  church  from  this  department  of  her  labor.  The 
teaching  and  singing  of  the  truth  in  this  department, 
as  well  as  in  the  entire  school,  can  not  be  otherwise 
than  religiously  profitable  to  the  children.  The  infant 
class  room  has  been  enlarged  and  beautified  and  made 
attractive  to  the  children. 

In  1896  the  primary  class  room  was  much 
improved  being  newly  carpeted  and  supplied 
with  kindergarten  chairs.  In  that  same  year 
an  intermediate  department  was  organized, 
which  has  been  of  great  value  to  the  school. 
The  growth  of  the  primary  and  intermediate 
departments  soon  necessitated  an  enlargement 
of  the  Sunday  School  building  and  in  1899, 
the  last  year  of  the  pastorate  of  Kev.  W.  C. 
Xorman,  a  new  infant  class  room  and  a  library 
room  were  built,  making  the  school  at  that  time 
the  most  comfortable  and  convenient  in  the  con- 
ference. The  room  that  had  been  used  by  the 
primary  class  was  divided  into  classrooms,  one 
part  of  it  being  used  by  the  intermediate  de- 
partment and  the  other  section  for  the  young 
men's  class  from  the  Agricultural  and  Mechan- 
ical College. 


48  Edenion  Street  Sunday  School 

When  the  Sunday  School  building  was  sold 
and  moved  away  the  section  which  had  been 
added  for  the  primary  class  and  library  was 
moved  back  of  the  church  and  continued  to  be 
used  by  the  primary  department  until  the  new 
building  was  nearing  completion. 

The  importance  of  wise  and  efficient  training 
of  the  children  cannot  be  overestimated.  This 
has  long  been  one  of  the  strongest  features  of 
the  school,  which  has  been  indeed  fortunate  in 
the  superintendents  of  the  primary  depart- 
ment. 

For  years  the  primary  class  was  under  the 
direction  of  Mrs.  W.  J.  Young,  Sr.,  who  gave 
her  best  efforts  to  the  work  of  teaching  and 
training  the  children,  leading  them  both  in  the 
study  of  lessons  and  in  songs  of  praise.  She 
was  assisted  at  various  times  by  different  mem- 
bers of  the  school.  The  last  year  of  her  service 
before  her  death  in  1893,  she  was  efficiently  as- 
sisted by  Miss  Mattie  Keese,  Miss  Mary  Mills 
and  Miss  Emma  McGee,  all  of  whom  later  re- 
turned to  the  main  school,  either  to  teach  or  to 
enter  classes. 

After  Mrs.  Young's  death  the  primary  class 
was  for  a  while  in  charge  of  Mr.  Jim  Brown 
and  Miss  Addie  Goodwyn.     In  1895,  at  the  ear- 


E  dent  on  Street  Sunday  School         49 

nest  insistence  of  Eev.  J.  1ST.  Cole,  the  pastor, 
Miss  Mattie  Reese  consented  to  become  super- 
intendent of  the  "infant"  class.  This  was  one 
of  the  last  services  Mr.  Cole  rendered  Edenton 
Street  church  before  his  term  as  its  pastor  ex- 
pired, and  it  is  a  service  in  which  both  he  and 
the  Sunday  School  rejoice  today.  In  Miss 
Mattie  Eeese  Mr.  Cole  saw  a  leader  who  was 
capable  of  making  of  the  infant  class  a  great 
and  mighty  factor  in  the  church.  Accepting 
the  duty  in  the  spirit  of  the  Master,  she  threw 
her  whole  soul  into  the  work,  becoming  each 
year  more  proficient  until  today  the  Sunday 
School  points  with  pride  to  its  primary  class. 

When  Miss  Reese  took  charge  of  it  as  its 
superintendent  there  were  fifty  children  on 
the.  roll.  Today  there  are  275.  Mrs.  Fab.  P. 
Brown  and  Miss  Bessie  Brown  were  her  first 
assistants,  Miss  Bessie  Brown  later  taking 
charge  of  the  intermediate  department.  Mrs. 
Fab.  Brown  has  continued  her  work  in  the 
class,  the  other  assistants  being  Miss  Ruth 
Hughes,  Miss  Ethel  Wynne,  and  Miss  Bessie 
Brown  (Mr.  Joe  Brown's  daughter). 

It  was  the  increase  in  membership  that  soon 
resulted  after  Miss  Reese  became  superintend- 
ent, that  necessitated  the  enlargement,  the  pri- 
4 


50  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

niary  class  first  starting  the  movement  for  a  new 
room  and  contributing  the  first  $50.  Through 
their  efforts  money  was  raised  to  buy  the  car- 
pet, piano,  pictures,  etc. 

Both  superintendent  and  assistants  have 
looked  forward  with  pleasure  to  the  splendid 
new  quarters  and  increased  facilities  offered  in 
the  new  Sunday  School  building.  For  months 
they  have  been  planning  for  the  opening  and 
preparing  to  entering  a  greater  field  of  endeavor 
than  ever  before.  The  primary  room  is  fitted 
with  every  convenience  and  device  to  further 
its  work  and  interest  the  children  in  the  teach- 
ing of  God's  word.  Graded  classes  will  greatly 
simplify  the  work.  While  this  has  been  car- 
ried out  as  far  as  possible  before,  the  crowded 
quarters  have  made  it  almost  impossible. 

When  a  child  graduates  from  the  primary 
class  into  the  intermediate,  it  is  well  grounded 
in  the  fundamental  truths  of  the  Bible  and  of 
the  beliefs  and  doctrines  of  the  Methodist- 
Church.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  many  of  the 
grown  people  of  the  Sunday  School  and  church 
are  not  nearly  so  well  informed  as  these  young 
people  are  who  complete  the  course  of  the  Pri- 
mary department.  In  the  simplified  doctrines 
of  the  Methodist  Church,  which  Miss  Reese  af- 


iw     *■* 


PASTORS 

Rev.  L.   S.  Burkhead,  1875-1877 
Rev.  William  S.  Black,  1878-1880 
Rev.  F.  L.  Reid,*  1881 
Rev.  E.  A.  Yates,  1882-1883 
Rev.  W.  C.  Norman,!  1884-1887 


*Filled  the  pulpit  to  the  close  of  the  year,  succeeding 
who  died  during;  his  pastorate. 

fServed  a  second  four  years,  1896-1890. 


Rev.  A.  A.  Boshamer, 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         51 

ter  long  months  of  hard  work  and  earnest 
study  completed  and  had  published  for  the  use 
of  her  classes,  she  did  a  service  whch  extended 
even  beyond  the  bounds  of  Edenton  Street 
Church,  the  set  of  25  doctrines  as  simplified  by 
her,  being  used  by  primary  classes  in  other 
Sunday  Schools.  The  Sunday  School  has  the 
deepest  appreciation  for  her  splendid  work  and 
that  of  her  faithful  assistants. 

It  is  always  one  of  the  pleasant  features  of 
the  Sunday  School  hour  when  the  little  folks, 
holding  aloft  their  banner,  and  with  faces  and 
eyes  aglow  with  happiness,  march  through  the 
main  school.  On  such  occasions  the  superin- 
tendent never  fails  to  point  with  pride  to  them 
as  the  future  leaders  of  the  church.  And  what 
a  large  company  of  leaders  they  are ! 

THE  CRADLE  ROLL 

Edenton  Street  Sunday  School  is  ready  to 
enroll  as  members  the  children  even  from  the 
day  of  their  birth.  The  cradle  roll  department 
has  for  many  years  been  a  part  of  the  primary 
work.  The  little  folks  are  presented  with  a  di- 
ploma and  on  each  birthday  the  date  is  remem- 
bered by  a  birthday  card.  The  age  limit  is 
three   years,    when   they   are    advanced   to   the 


52  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

primary  department.  On  special  days  at  the 
Sunday  School,  Harvest  Day,  Chldren's  Day, 
Christmas,  etc.,  the  cradle  roll  members,  in 
their  nurses'  arms,  make  an  interesting  part  of 
the  primary  procession. 

In  memory  of  his  little  girl,  Mary  Elizabeth 
Young,  who  died  November  28,  1911,  Mr. 
Henry  J.  Young  presented  to  the  primary  de- 
partment a  handsome  cradle  roll  birthday  chair, 
and  a  picture  of  Jesus  and  the  children,  to 
hang  above  it. 

INTERMEDIATE  DEPARTMENT 

A  very  important  part  of  the  Sunday  School 
is  the  intermediate  department,  a  stepping 
stone  as  it  were  from  the  primary  department 
to  the  larger  body  of  the  main  school.  The 
children  in  this  class  are  just  at  the  formative 
period,  the  age  when  the  deepest  impressions 
are  made.  To  hold  these  children  during  this 
time,  to  see  that  no  seed  sown  in  the  young 
lives  in  the  primary  department  is  lost,  but 
that  it  should  blossom  and  bear  fruit  for  the 
larger  school,  is  the  work  of  the  intermediate 
teacher. 

Most  successfully  has  Miss  Bessie  Brown 
performed  this  work.     With  untiring  zeal,  pa- 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         53 

tience  and  loyalty,  she  has  labored  in  this  de- 
partment of  the  school's  work.  Yet  to  make 
the  intermediate  department  what  it  should  be, 
to  make  it  count  for  the  most  good,  those  who 
have  given  the  subject  the  most  study,  declare 
there  should  be  a  four-year  course.  With  the 
school  in  its  new  home  this  department  will  no 
doubt  be  enlarged  so  as  to  embrace  such  a 
course. 

The  intermediate  department  was  first  organ- 
ized under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  W.  C.  Nor- 
man, in  1896,  Mrs.  Clee  Lee  having  charge  of 
it  for  some  time,  being  later  succeeded  by  Miss 
ISTarcissa  Hutchings  and  Miss  Minnie  Redford. 
In  1905,  the  intermediate  department  had 
about  disbanded,  when,  in  May,  Miss  Brown 
became  superintendent  of  it,  receiving  from  the 
primary  department  a  class  of  ten  children. 
She  was  equal  to  the  task  of  building  up  the  de- 
partment again,  and  since  that  time  she  has 
made  of  it,  what  it  should  be,  one  of  the  most 
important  branches  of  the  Sunday  School. 
There  are  at  present  32  members  enrolled. 


54  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

SUNDAY  SCHOOL  ACTIVITIES 

THE  HOME  DEPARTMENT 

A  branch  of  the  Sunday  School  which  is  do- 
ing untold  good,  unknown  and  unobserved  by 
the  great  body  of  the  school,  is  the  home  de- 
partment. The  coining  of  the  monthly  maga- 
zine, or  the  quarterly,  is  looked  forward  to  with 
much  pleasure  by  many  who  are  shut  in,  un- 
able to  attend  Sunday  School.  In  their  homes 
the  lessons  are  studied.  Thus  there  is  a  bond 
of  union  and  a  thread  of  sympathy  between  the 
the  home  department  and  the  main  body  of  the 
Sunday  School. 

There  was  a  home  department  a  number  of 
years  ago  in  connection  with  the  school  while 
Mr.  J.  R.  Johnson  was  connected  with  the 
school.  He  served  as  superintendent  of  the  de- 
partment, and  with  a  number  of  efficient  help- 
ers did  good  work.  After  he  left  the  city,  to 
return  to  his  former  home,  this  department  of 
the  Sunday  School's  work  died  out.  It  was 
successfully  revived  in  the  fall  of  1907,  when  at 
a  meeting  at  the  home  of  Mr.  J.  G.  Brown,  the 
department  was  newly  organized.  Mr.  W.  J. 
Young,    Sr.,    was    made    superintendent.     He 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         55 

was  assisted  by  Miss  Janie  Brown,  Miss 
Josephine  Brown  (now  Mrs.  J.  K.  Doughton) 
and  Mrs.  N".  G.  Whitfield.  These  ladies  served 
most  faithfully  until  circumstances  compelled 
the  last  two  to  give  up  the  work.  Miss  Janie 
Brown,  together  with  Mr.  Young  kept  up  a 
department  of  107  members.  Mr.  Young's  fail- 
ing health  compelled  him  to  give  up  active 
work,  and  shortly  before  he  died  he  spoke  of 
his  intention  of  asking  to  have  some  one  ap- 
pointed to  fill  his  place.  At  a  meeting  of  teach- 
ers, Sunday  afternoon,  February  18th,  of  this 
year,  Dr.  Albert  Anderson,  an  assistant  super- 
intendent, was  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the 
work  of  the  home  department.  An  increase  of 
interest  is  already  being  shown.  The  pastor 
has  within  the  last  few  weeks  added  a  number 
of  members  at  Method.  There  is  now  a  large 
class  enrolled. 

The  great  burden  of  carrying  on  this  work 
for  the  past  several  years  has  fallen  largely  on 
Miss  Janie  Brown.  But  to  her  it  has  been  no 
burden,  for  nowhere  does  she  find  greater  pleas- 
ure than  in  working  for  Edenton  Street  church 
and  Sunday  School — working  in  the  byways 
and  untrodden  places,  helping  when  she  can  to 
drop  a  seed  of  kindness  or  shed  a  ray  of  light 


56  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

into  some  darkened  home  and  life.  No  won- 
der that  the  members  of  the  home  department 
look  forward  to  the  coming  of  their  lesson 
paper,  when  with  it  comes  Miss  Janie,  who  al- 
ways leaves  a  brighter  home  for  her  visit  to  it. 
What  her  service  has  meant  to  the  school  it 
would  be  hard  to  say,  for  so  quietly  has  she 
gone  about  her  work  that  few  know  how  often 
her  helping  hand  has  been  extended. 

Thirty  years  ago  Mr.  Bain  wrote  in  his  his- 
tory: 

The  record  of  attendance  notes  the  long  connection 
with  the  school,  beginning  with  childhood,  of  Misses 
Fannie  H.  Smith,  Sallie  S.  Smith,  Mary  Anna  Hill, 
Blanche  Fentress,  and  Janie  L.  Brown. 

What  shall  I  say  of  them?  Through  all  the  history 
of  our  Sunday  School,  ever  since  the  beginning  of 
their  membership,  they  have  been  more  faithful  in 
their  beautiful  service  than  were  the  vestal  virgins 
to  the  sacred  flame  they  guarded.  But  pure  and 
heavenly  were  the  fires  that  they  have  tended  in  their 
loving  vigils — fires  that  have  brightened,  now 
brighten,  and  will  brighten,  many  a  pathway  in  life — 
fires  that  will  mingle  at  last  and  forever  with  the 
glory  that  illumines  the  home  of  the  blest. 

How  well  he  expressed  it !  If  he  were  living 
today  he  would  realize  the  full  truth  of  the  vis- 
ion he  had,  for  through  thirty  years  the  fire 
of  Miss  Janie's  loving  service  has  shed  a  great 
glory  over  countless  pathways.     Time  has  no 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         57 

effect  on  her,  and  she  will  always  be  numbered 
among  the  young  people  of  the  Sunday  School, 
who  love  her  and  claim  her  as  one  of  them- 
selves. 

TEACHER  TRAINING  CLASSES 

With  a  growing  Sunday  School  has  come  the 
need  of  trained  and  efficient  teachers.  At  dif- 
ferent times  efforts  have  been  made  to  enlist 
the  teachers  in  special  study  classes.  A  Quar- 
terly Conference  record  of  1902  bears  note  of 
the  fact  that  the  "superintendent  has  organized 
a  teachers'  study  circle,  with  23  members,  to  in- 
crease the  practical  efficiency  of  the  teachers." 
Only  one  member  of  the  circle  completed  the 
circuit.  Mr.  T.  B.  Eldridge  was  active  in  this 
work ;  at  various  times  trying  to  interest  the 
teachers  in  taking  it  up.  In  the  meantime  he 
studied  the  courses  prescribed  by  the  Sunday 
School  Board  of  the  General  Conference,  tak- 
ing the  "full  diploma,"  and  later,  the  "ad- 
vanced diploma." 

The  past  year,  1911,  has  been  most  success- 
ful in  the  organization  of  two  teacher  training 
classes.  Mr.  Eldridge  first  organized  a  class 
of  ten,  which  he  taught  every  Sunday  morning 
during  the  Sunday  School  hour.  Eive  of  these 
completed  the  course  and  on  Sunday  morning. 


58  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

February  11,  1912,  received  their  diplomas 
from  the  superintendent.  They  were  Mrs. 
W.  E.  Stinson,  Mrs.  I.  H.  Paris,  Mrs.  L.  W. 
Lancaster,  Miss  Gulia  Faison  and  Mr.  T.  B. 
Stancel.  As  this  was  the  first  occasion  of  the 
kind  in  the  history  of  the  Sunday  School,  it 
was  a  notable  one,  and  words  of  commendation 
and  congratulation  were  offered  by  both  the 
pastor  and  superintendent.  Mr.  North,  in  be- 
half of  the  class,  presented  their  teacher  with 
a  handsome  umbrella  as  a  token  of  their  appre- 
ciation. Mr.  Eldridge  has  already  started  an- 
other promising  class  of  seven  members. 

The  pastor  last  fall  organized  a  teacher 
training  class  of  about  forty,  which  meets  every 
Friday  evening.  They  have  been  doing  good 
work  and  the  pastor  is  justly  proud  of  his  class. 
They  have  just  completed  the  first  half  of  the 
book,  Dr.  Hamill's  "Legion  of  Honor,"  and 
have  started  on  the  second  half.  It  means 
much  for  the  future  of  the  school  to  have  so 
many  trained  workers  in  the  ranks.  It  is  now 
recognized  that  teacher-training  is  a  regular  and 
permanent  feature  of  the  work  of  our  school. 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         59 

ORGANIZED  CLASSES 

About  1904  and  1905  the  organized  class 
movement  began  to  take  hold  of  the  school, 
gaining  popular  favor  until  within  two  or  three 
years  three  classes  were  organized,  the  jSTorman 
Class,  the  Baraca  Class  and  the  Philathea 
Class.  Mr.  T.  B.  Eldridge  was  active  in  the 
organization  of  all  three  of  these  classes,  and 
was  the  first  teacher,  respectively,  of  the  Gor- 
man Class  and  the  Baraca  Class. 

Following  the  organization  of  these,  about 
three  or  four  years  ago,  Mrs.  E.  W.  Hightow- 
er's  class  of  girls  was  organized  into  the  Berean 
Class. 

During  nine  months  of  the  year  one  of  the 
largest  classes  in  the  Sunday  School  is  a  class 
of  A.  &  M.  College  students,  taught  by  Mr. 
Josephus  Daniels. 

On  Sunday,  February  25,  1912,  the  Loyal, 
the  youngest  organized  class  came  into  exist- 
ence, a  class  for  boys  under  the  direction  of 
Mr.  E.  M.  Hall. 

While  these  are  the  only  large  organized 
classes,  many  of  the  individual  classes  have 
some  form  of  organization  and  elect  their  offi- 
cers. 


60  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

THE  NORMAN  CLASS 

The  class  of  the  older  men  of  the  Sunday 
School,  taught  by  Rev.  W.  C.  Norman  during 
his  second  pastorate,  was  called  the  Bible  class, 
or  Mr.  Norman's  class.  At  the  end  of  Mr. 
Norman's  term,  Mr.  J.  R.  Johnson  became 
teacher,  the  class  then  being  called  by  his  name. 
When  Mr.  Johnson  went  to  Canada  to  make 
his  home,  Mr.  T.  B.  Eldridge  was  elected 
teacher  of  the  class.  About  this  time  the  adult 
class  movement  was  setting  in,  and  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  the  teacher,  the  class  on  July  3, 
1904,  adopted  a  form  of  organization,  choosing 
as  their  name,  one  which  met  the  approval  of 
all — "The  Norman  Class."  Mr.  Norman  had 
only  shortly  before  that  been  called  to  his  Heav- 
enly home,  and  it  was  a  beautiful  tribute  to  pay 
to  his  memory. 

The  first  officers  elected  were :  President, 
Miles  O.  Sherrill;  Vice-President,  C.  W. 
Thornburg;  Secretary,  Vitruvius  Royster;  As- 
sistant Secretary,  Ivan  M.  Procter;  Treasurer, 
A.  H.  Green;  Teacher,  T.  B.  Eldridge. 

In  1905  Mr.  T.  B.  Eldridge  resigned  as 
teacher,  having  been  called  away  from  the  city 
for  the  time  being,  and  was  succeeded  by  Mr. 
Z.  V.  Judd.     Mr.   Judd  continued  teacher  of 


1. 

Rev 

2. 

Rev 

3. 

Rev 

4. 

Rev 

5. 

Rev 

PASTORS 

J.  T.  Gibds,  1888-1889 
J.  II .  Cordon,  1890-1891 
John  N.  Cole,  1892-1895 
G.  F.  Smith,  1900-1903 
R.  F.  Bumpas,  1904-1907 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         61 

the  class  until  Rev.  H.  M.  North  became  pas- 
tor of  the  church  in  1910.  On  the  voluntary 
retirement  of  Mr.  Jucld  as  teacher,  Mr.  North 
accepted  the  position,  which  he  has  most  faith- 
fully filled  since  that  time. 

Mr.  Vitruvius  Royster  has  been  secretary  of 
the  class  since  its  organization,  a  motion  being 
made  at  the  last  election  of  officers  to  make  him 
secretary  for  life. 

The  present  officers  of  the  class  are:  Presi- 
dent, W.  G.  Womble;  Vice-President,  E.  W. 
Hightower ;  Secretary,  Vitruvius  Royster ;  As- 
sistant Secretary,  C.  W.  White ;  Treasurer,  J. 
F.  Stanback;  Teacher,  Rev.  H.  M.  North;  As- 
sistant Teachers,  Prof.  Z.  V.  Judd  and  T.  H. 
Calvert. 

BARACA  CLASS 

The  Baraca  Class  had  its  beginning  before 
it  was  known  by  its  present  name.  At  a  time 
when  there  was  no  distinctively  young  men's 
class  except  the  A.  &  M.  College  class,  in  our 
Sunday  School,  Mr.  Herbert  Sink  began  an 
agitation  for  a  class  of  young  men  composed  of 
home-folks.  He  failed  to  get  the  necessary 
support  and  the  project  went  to  sleep.  It  woke 
up  suddenly  when  Dr.  C.  O.  Abernethy  spoke 
on  the  subject  in  church  conference,  and  in  a 


62  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

surprisingly  short  time  thereafter  the  class  was 
organized,  April  23,  1905,  with  eighteen  young 
men  under  the  leadership  of  Prof.  EL  H.  Hume 
as  teacher.  The  first  president  of  the  class  was 
Dr.  C.  O.  Abernethy  and  the  secretary  was  H. 
D.   Arnold. 

The  class  might  have  been  named  "Baraca" 
from  the  first,  but  there  was  objection;  so  an- 
other name  had  to  be  chosen.  After  much 
searching  of  the  Bible  dictionary  the  name 
"Helon"  was  selected,  because  it  signified 
strength,  which  was  supposed  to  be  a  proper 
sentiment  for  a  class  of  young  men. 

By  and  by  Prof.  Hume  removed  to  Florida 
and  Mr.  T.  B.  Eldridge,  having  returned  to 
Raleigh,  was  elected  teacher.  The  new  teacher 
felt  the  pulse  of  the  class  and  found  it  weak ; 
he  tested  the  temperature  and  found  it  below 
normal.  He  inquired  the  cause  and  found 
there  was  no  enthusiasm  for  the  name  or  organ- 
ization, and  that  there  was  an  impression 
among  the  leaders  that  the  thing  would  go  if  it 
were  named  Baraca.  By  this  time  the  former 
opposition  to  the  name  had  abated.  The  mat- 
ter was  taken  up  in  a  general  meeting  of  the 
class,  the  name  was  changed  and  everybody  was 
happy.     The  date  of  this  change  was  October 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         63 

14,  1906.  There  has  never  been  any  reason  to 
regret  the  change.  The  class  has  been  a  strong 
organization  ever  since  it  adopted  the  Baraca 
name. 

On  April  9,  1909,  Mr.  Eldridge  resigned  as 
teacher  and  was  succeeded  by  Prof.  J.  A.  Biv- 
ins,  who  is  still  teacher.  Prof.  H.  E.  Satter- 
field  is  assistant  teacher. 

The  present  officers  are :  S.  H.  Farabee, 
President;  R.  F.  Munns,  Secretary;  G.  C. 
Knight,  Treasurer;  and  L.  E.  Nichols,  Press 
Reporter. 

PHILATHEA  CLASS 

Following  the  organization  of  the  Norman 
Class  and  the  Baraca  Class,  the  need  of  an  or- 
ganized class  for  women  was  felt.  There  was 
already  in  the  school  a  large  class  of  young 
women,  doing  splendid  work.  This  clsss  had 
been  known  as  the  Mary  Pescud  Class.  Miss 
Pescud  having  given  up  her  class  to  go  to  Bra- 
zil to  take  up  her  work  as  a  foreign  missionary, 
she  was  succeeded  in  turn  as  teacher  by  Mr.  Jo- 
seph G.  Brown,  who  resigned  to  become  super- 
intendent; Miss  Jessie  Jones,  now  Mrs.  E.  W. 
Ledbetter,  of  Anniston,  Fla. ;  Miss  Maude  Mer- 
rimon,  now  Mrs.  Jesse  L.  Cuninggim,  of 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  who  resigned  to  go  to  Flor- 


64  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

ida  to  teach.  After  the  resignation  of  Miss 
Merrimon  Dr.  Albert  Anderson,  in  October, 
1907,  was  appointed  teacher  of  the  class.  In 
January,  1908,  in  order  to  do  more  effective 
work,  the  class  was  organized  into  a  Philathea 
Class. 

The  first  class  officers  were:  President,  Mrs. 
J.  S.  Gray ;  First  Vice-President,  Miss  Janie 
Brown ;  Teacher,  Dr.  Albert  Anderson ;  Assist- 
ant Teacher,  Mrs.  R.  B.  John ;  Secretary- 
Treasurer,  Miss  Mamie  Young;  Assistant  Sec- 
retary-Treasurer, Miss  Bessie  Guthrie. 

The  class  today  numbers  34,  with  an  average 
attendance  of  18. 

They  have  done  splendid  work  during  their 
four  years  of  organization.  One  hundred 
and  twenty-five  dollars  has  been  paid  on  the 
new  Sunday  School  building,  twenty-five  dol- 
lars to  the  Philathea  Union,  and  about  forty 
dollars  for  stationery  for  the  class,  flowers  for 
the  sick,  etc.  The  work  of  the  class  cannot  be 
estimated  in  dollars  and  cents,  for  it  has  been 
in  the  visits  to  the  sick,  the  cheering  bouquets, 
the  welcoming  hand  to  the  stranger  and  the 
smile  and  word  of  help  and  love  that  the  class 
has  counted  most. 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         65 

The  lesson  hour  is  a  time  of  pleasure  and 
profit,  for  in  Dr.  Anderson  they  have  a  model 
teacher.  It  has  been  said  that  the  class  is  what 
the  teacher  makes  it.  It  is  certainly  true  that 
the  Philathea  Class  owes  a  great  deal  to  the  in- 
spiration and  help  of  their  teacher. 

The  present  officers  of  the  class  are :  Teacher, 
Dr.  Albert  Anderson;  Assistant  Teacher,  Miss 
Sallie  Reese;  President,  Miss  Lina  Stephen- 
son; First  Vice-President,  Miss  Sallie  Reese; 
Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  S.  P.  ISTorris;  Sec- 
retary, Miss  Mamie  Young;  Assistant  Secre- 
tary, Miss  Hannah  Price ;  Treasurer,  Miss  Vir- 
ginia Eldridge. 

BEREAN  CLASS 

Mrs.  E.  W.  Hightower's  class  of  girls  was 
about  three  or  four  years  ago  organized  into 
the  Berean  Class,  the  meaning  of  which  is 
"search  the  Scriptures  daily."  As  this  is  what 
Mrs.  Hightower's  girls  do,  the  name  is  pecul- 
iarly fitting.  This  is  one  of  the  largest  classes 
in  the  school,  having  on  the  roll  39  members. 
There  is  a  charm  about  this  class,  the  secret  of 
which  is  no  doubt  to  be  found  in  the  teacher's 
personal  interest  in  each  and  every  one  who 
comes  to  the  class,  whether  a  member  or  a  vis- 


66  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

itor.     And  back  of  it  all  is  her  deep  consecra- 
tion and  earnestness. 

The  present  officers  are  President,  Miss  Jen- 
nie Procter ;  Vice-President,  Miss  Nellie  Hill ; 
Secretary-Treasurer,  Mrs.  W.  B.  Wright;  As- 
sistant Secretary-Treasurer,  Miss  Athalea  May  ; 
Class  Treasurer,  Mrs.  B.  B.  Benson ;  Social 
Committee,  Mrs.  Annie  Love  Wilson,  Misses 
Mary  Evans,  Hilda  Bloxton  and  Annie  Lee 
Wynne;  Working  Committee,  Misses  Emily 
Hall  and  Myrtle  King,  and  Mrs.  Hubert  Tur- 
ner ;  Visiting  Committee,  The  entire  class. 

A.  AND  M.  CLASS 

A  Sunday  School  record  of  May  15,  1884, 
makes  note  of  the  fact  that  Mr.  Robert  E.  Lums- 
den  had  been  appointed  teacher  in  place  of 
Miss  Mary  Conn.  That  class  of  three  boys 
taken  by  Mr.  Lumsden,  later  grew  into  one  of 
the  largest  classes  for  young  men  in  the  school, 
most  of  them  being  A.  &  M.  College  students 
during  the  greater  part  of  the  year.  Mr.  Lums- 
den proved  to  be  a  very  efficient  teacher,  keep- 
ing the  class  until  it  was  taken,  in  September, 
1902,  by  Mr.  Josephus  Daniels,  who  is  still 
teacher.  Under  Mr.  Lumsden  the  class  grew 
from  3  to  66  members. 


E  dent  on  Street  Sunday  School         67 

Today  there  are  82  A.  &  M.  students  en-> 
rolled.  The  membership,  of  course,  varies,  but 
during  the  nine  months  the  boys  are  here,  the 

A.  &  M.  class  is  the  largest  in  the  school.  They 
add  greatly  to  the  interest  and  their  return  is 
always  welcomed  with  pleasure,  while  it  seems 
that  a  big  part  of  the  school  is  gone  when  vaca- 
tion takes  them  to  their  homes.  In  Mr.  Dan- 
iels the  school  has  found  a  teacher  who  can  best 
attract  and  hold  the  young  men,  who  delight  in 
his  teaching. 

In  September,  1911,  the  following  class  offi- 
cers were  elected  for  the  school  year: 

President,  O.  W.  Smith;  Vice-President,  J. 

B.  Steele;  Secretary-Treasurer,  W.  H.  Gra- 
ham, Jr. ;  Membership  Committee,  W.  B.  Sto- 
ver, T.  R.  Parrish,  C.  M.  Kephart,  J.  B.  Ward, 
and  J.  T.  King. 

THE  LOYAL  CLASS 

On  Sunday,  February  25,  1912,  a  class  of 
youths  was  organized  by  Mr.  E.  M.  Hall  from 
the  two  classes  formerly  taught  by  Miss  Ida 
Cheek  and  Mr.  G.  E.  Iden.  Herbert  Taylor 
was  elected  president  of  the  class ;  Charles  P. 
Eldridge,  first  vice-president ;  and  Kenneth 
Merritt,        secretary-treasurer.        Twenty-three 


68  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

were  enrolled  in  the  class.  The  young  fellows 
and  their  teacher  have  many  plans  for  future 
work,  and  it  is  confidently  expected  that  the 
number  will  soon  grow  so  that  this  class  will  be 
one  of  the  strongest  in  the  school. 

The  hustling  committee  is  composed  of  Leon- 
ard Thornburg,  John  Hall  and  Everett  Smith. 

CLASSES  OF  THE  BLIND 

For  almost  fifty  years,  since  the  establish- 
ment of  the  State  School  for  the  Blind  at  Ra- 
leigh, many  of  the  pupils  of  that  institution 
have  been  regular  attendants  at  Edenton  Street 
Sunday  School.  The  fall  revival  of  interest  in 
this  school,  after  the  summer  dullness,  may  be 
said  to  begin  with  their  coming,  when  school 
opens  in  September.  During  all  the  winter, 
whenever  the  weather  permits  of  their  coming 
out,  they  are  regularly  and  promptly  in  their 
places,  setting  an  example  in  many  ways  to 
those  more  fortunate.  Their  presence  has  been 
a  blessing  to  the  school  during  all  these  years 
and  their  silent  influence  has  gone  out  among 
many.  The  other  members  of  the  school  would 
do  well  to  follow  their  example  in  the  faithful 
study  of  the  lesson.  What  the  Sunday  School 
has  meant  to  these  boys  and  girls  who  for  a 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         69 

few  years  have  come  under  its  influence  could 
hardly  be  told.  In  every  revival  meeting  held 
in  the  church  the  school  is  well  represented 
among  those  who  come  to  the  Master. 

The  teachers  of  these  classes  today  are  doing 
more  for  their  scholars  than  if  they  were  light- 
ening the  blinded  eyes ;  they  are  bringing  vi- 
sions of  eternal  things,  that  will  make  bright 
the  hearts  and  lives,  and  in  the  future  years 
will  in  the  New  Jerusalem  give  them  eyes  to 
see  their  King  in  His  glory. 

There  are  four  classes,  taught  by  Mrs.  R.  G. 
Reid,  Miss  Sarah  Burkhead,  Miss  Flora 
Creech,  and  Mr.  I.  C.  Blair. 

OTHER  CLASSES  AND  THEIR  TEACHERS 

Miss  Penelope  Davis'  class  of  young  ladies 
is  the  outgrowth  of  the  class  of  girls  Mrs.  A.  H. 
Green  received  from  the  infant  class,  May  6, 
1894.  The  class  has  been  fortunate  in  that 
during  all  these  years  of  its  history  it  has  had 
only  the  two  teachers,  Miss  Davis  taking  up  the 
work  that  Mrs.  Green  laid  down  at  her  death  in 
1902.  Only  two  of  the  original  number  that 
graduated  from  the  primary  department  are 
members  of  the  class  today,  and  as  one  of  these, 
I  could  not  complete  this  sketch  without  paying 


70  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

tribute  to  the  faithful  teaching  of  Mrs.  Green. 
Although  she  had  the  care  of  a  large  family, 
she  always  found  time  to  be  in  her  place  Sun- 
day morning,  and  it  was  largely  through  her 
influence  that  many  in  her  class  found  the 
Saviour.  Miss  Davis  has  proved  a  worthy  suc- 
cessor, and  it  is  indeed  a  great  privilege  to  lis- 
ten to  her  earnest  teaching  of  the  lesson.  She 
has  at  all  times  shown  a  deep  and  personal  in- 
terest in  her  girls,  that  they  appreciate  very 
deeply. 

Mrs.  I.  M.  Procter  has  one  of  the  most  inter- 
esting and  enthusiastic  classes  of  girls  in  the 
school.  Mrs.  Procter  has  been  among  the  ranks 
of  the  teachers  for  eight  or  nine  years.  During 
this  time  she  has  taught  several  classes  of  girls. 

Miss  Narcissa  Hutchings  has  been  teaching 
in  the  school  since  she  was  fifteen,  and  no  more 
faithful  worker  can  be  found  in  any  depart- 
ment of  the  work  of  the  church.  She  is  always 
ready  and  willing  to  lend  a  hand  in  any  service. 
She  has  a  class  of  younger  girls,  the  fficers  of 
which  are  President,  Miss  Rosalie  Pope ;  Sec- 
retary, Miss  Nellie  Sims  Iden ;  Treasurer,  Miss 
Bessie  Pope. 

Other  teachers  of  the  classes  of  younger  girls, 
are  Mrs.  T.  C.  Powell,  Miss  Mary  Swann,  Miss 


PASTORS 


1.  Rev.  F.  M.  Shamburger,  1908-100!) 

2.  Rev.  W.  A.  Stanbury,*  1909 

3.  Rev.  H.  M.  North,  1910-1913 


'Appointed  to  succeed  Rev.  F.  M.  Shamburger,  who  resigned  because  of  im- 
paired health. 


E  dent  on  Street  Sunday  School         71 

Beryl  Taylor  and  Miss  Alice  Willson.  While 
they  have  not  been  teaching  as  long  as  the 
teachers  already  mentioned  they  are  among  the 
most  faithful  in  the  school  and  are  doing  a 
great  work  for  the  young  folk  and  for  the 
school. 

The  devotion  of  Mrs.  Will  Young's  class  of 
boys  to  their  teacher  is  beautiful  to  see,  as  is 
also  that  of  the  class  taught  by  Miss  Mary 
King.  Both  these  teachers  seem  to  have  found 
the  key  to  a  boy's  heart  and  learned  the  secret 
of  winning  them. 


72  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  OFFICERS 

The  superintendent  is  assisted  by  a  most  ef- 
ficient corps  of  officers.  The  assistant  superin- 
tendents, Captain  J.  T.  Alderman,  Mr.  T.  A. 
Partin,  and  Dr.  Albert  Anderson,  help  him 
very  largely  in  his  work.  Mr.  Partin  and  Cap- 
tain Alderman  are  usually  to  be  found  at  the 
door  with  a  hearty  handshake  and  a  "glad  to 
see  you." 

Just  how  long  Mr.  Phil  Thiem  has  been 
treasurer  of  the  school  it  is  impossible  to  say, 
for  Mr.  Thiem  says  he  does  not  remember  him- 
self, and  unfortunately  there  is  no  record.  He 
is  so  much  a  part  of  the  school  that  it  would 
hardly  be  the  same  without  his  happy  face  at 
the  treasurer's  desk. 

The  school  has  just  lost  one  of  its  most  valu- 
able officers,  Mr.  George  D.  Stephenson,  its  sec- 
retary. Mr.  Stephenson's  removal  to  another 
city  is  a  distinct  loss  to  the  school,  doubly  so 
since  he  took  with  him  his  wife  who  promised 
to  be  a  very  valuable  worker.  As  an  evidence 
of  the  appreciation  in  which  he  was  held,  the 
school  on  Sunday,  March  3,  just  before  his  de- 
parture, presented  him  with  a  handsome  Bible. 


E  dent  on  Street  Sunday  School         73 

Mr.  J.  B.  Green,  who  was  assistant  secretary, 
has  succeeded  him,  Mr.  Julian  White  being 
elected  assistant  secretary. 

From  1875  to  1898,  the  school  had  a  most 
efficient  librarian  in  Mr.  E.  F.  Pescud.  When 
business  called  him  to  another  city  to  reside  for 
a  while  in  1898,  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr. 
Henry  J.  Young.  Mr.  Young  has  continued 
in  charge  of  the  library  ever  since  and  is  as- 
sisted by  Mr.  O.  L.  Bailey  and  Mr.  C.  C.  Ba- 
ker. Those  who  are  acquainted  with  the  stat- 
ure of  the  assistant  librarians  feel  that  a  better 
combination  could  not  be  secured,  for  they  work 
together  in  unusual  harmony.  There  is  neither 
the  need  of  a  stepladder  on  one  hand  nor  a  need- 
less stooping  on  the  other,  while  Mr.  Young, 
with  his  calm  unruffled  smile,  hands  out  the 
books  from  the  middle  shelves.  But  this  is  an 
old  joke  with  the  superintendent,  usually  heard 
on  Sunday  School  election  day. 

Edenton  Street  Sunday  School  is  fortunate 
in  its  music,  an  important  part  of  the  exercises. 
Mrs.  Hightower  and  her  assistant,  Miss  Mary 
King,  are  both  faithful  and  efficient  pianists. 
Too  much  cannot  be  said  of  Mr.  W.  B.  Wright 
as  leader  of  the  orchestra.  There  is  no  officer 
or  teacher  in  the  school  more  faithful  in  at- 


74  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

tendance  than  he.     He  spares  no  effort  to  give 
the  school  good  orchestral  music. 

There  is  no  more  faithful  servant  of  the 
church  and  Sunday  School  than  John  Morgan, 
who  for  eighteen  years  has  been  the  sexton,  and 
who  feels  an  interest  in  everything  that  con- 
cerns the  life  of  the  church. 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         75 


THE  CIRCLES 

From  Sunday  to  Sunday  at  Edenton  Street 
Church  the  congregation  hears  the  announce- 
ments read  out  of  the  meeting  of  Circle  No.  1, 
Circle  ISTo.  2,  or  whatever  circle  it  may  be,  of- 
tentimes without  giving  a  thought  to  what  these 
meetings  mean.  Thursday  night,  December 
28,  1911,  in  the  basement  of  the  new  Sunday 
School  building  a  general  meeting  of  the  cir- 
cles was  held  and  a  report  of  the  year's  work 
was  made,  also  of  the  four  years  during  which 
the  circles  have  been  organized,  $5,168.56  be- 
ing the  grand  total  raised. 

This  means  not  $5,168.56  raised  by  subscrip- 
tions and  solicitations,  etc.,  but  that  it  has  been 
made  by  the  hard,  untiring  toil  of  the  women 
composing  the  membership  of  the  circles.  ISTo 
undertaking  has  been  too  hard  or  too  big,  and 
they  have  labored  unceasingly  in  behalf  of  every 
worthy  cause. 

There  are  six  circles,  the  chairmen  of  these 
being:  Miss  Hilda  Bloxton,  Mrs.  J.  J.  Ber- 
nard, Miss  ISTarcissa  Hutchings,  Mrs.  T.  A. 
Partin,  Mrs.  W.  A.  Wynne  and  Miss  Sallie 
Reese.  The  circles  have  not  only  the  aim  to 
make  monev.  but  to  brins;  about  a  closer  social 


76  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

spirit  in  the  church,  making  it  a  special  aim  to 
visit  the  strangers,  the  sick,  the  shut-ins,  etc. 

The  organization  was  formed  on  the  fourth 
Monday  in  January,  1908.  The  movement  had 
been  in  the  minds  of  Mrs.  I.  M.  Procter  and 
some  of  the  other  ladies  of  the  church  for 
months  before.  It  had  been  planned  and 
talked  and  finally,  at  the  beginning  of  the  year, 
1908,  the  time  seemed  ripe  to  organize.  Mrs. 
Procter  as  first  vice-president  of  the  Home  Mis- 
sion Society,  was  the  moving  spirit  in  the  work 
of  organization,  and  so  became  the  chairman  of 
all  the  circles.  There  were  sixty  ladies  at  this 
first  meeting.  Mrs.  C.  V.  Albright  was  made 
treasurer  and  Miss  Daisy  Waitt,  secretary.  The 
object  of  the  organization  was  to  do  the  local 
work  of  the  church. 

About  this  time  the  matter  of  the  new  Sun- 
day School  building  was  being  agitated  and 
the  movement  had  no  more  enthusiastic  sup- 
porters than  the  women  of  the  circles.  They 
have  given  willingly  and  unceasingly  of  their 
time  and  their  means.  The  amount  of  their 
work  can  not  be  estimated  in  mere  dollars  and 
cents. 

Mrs.  Procter  has  continued  chairman  of  the 
circles  for  four  years,  and  her  inspiration,  un- 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         77 

tiring  energy,  business  ability  and  tact  have 
been  the  motive  power  that  has  spurred  the 
women  on  to  greater  efforts.  She  has  had  the 
loyal  support  of  the  chairmen  of  the  individual 
circles,  and  working  together  in  harmony  and 
union  they  have  built  up  one  of  the  greatest 
organizations  in  the  church.  From  sixty  mem- 
bers the  number  has  grown  during  the  four 
years  to  more  than  250. 

Miss  Mary  King  is  the  secretary  and  Miss 
Bessie  Brown  treasurer  of  the  general  circles. 


78  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 


MOVEMENT  FOR  NEW  SUNDAY  SCHOOL 

The  new  Sunday  School  had  been  considered 
for  a  long  time.  In  1906,  Rev.  R.  F.  Bum- 
pas,  who  was  then  pastor,  in  his  report  to  the 
Quarterly  Conference,  said : 

The  Sunday  School,  which  is  one  of  the  best  in 
North  Carolina,  has  outgrown  its  quarters  and  has 
on  foot  a  project  for  erecting  a  new  Sunday  School 
building. 

The  successful  movement  seems  to  have  had 
birth  in  a  banquet  given  by  the  women  of  the 
circles  to  the  official  board  Tuesday  evening, 
February  16,  1909.  It  was  a  very  happy  oc- 
casion and  earnest  talks  were  made  on  the  sub- 
ject of  the  new  Sunday  School  building.  A 
subscription  was  started  and  amounted  to 
$5,000.  The  circles  at  this  meeting  pledged 
their  support,  and  later  in  the  year  when  pub- 
lic pledges  were  called  for  they  gave  $1,000  to 
the  building.  Another  $1,000  has  since  been 
given  to  the  building  fund,  while  $1,000  has 
been  raised  for  the  furnishings.  Besides  this 
total  of  $3,000  raised  for  the  building  and  fur- 
nishings, the  last  gift  of  the  circles  is  the  hand- 
some Knabe  Concert  Grand  piano  for  the  Sun- 
day School  auditorium. 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         79 

THE  FAREWELL  SERVICE 

In  the  spring  of  1910  the  old  Sunday  School 
building  was  sold  to  Mr.  T.  C.  Powell,  and  on 
Monday,  May  2,  1910,  workmen  began  to  tear 
it  away  to  make  room  for  the  handsome  new 
brick  edifice  to  take  its  place.  Many  of  the 
members  of  the  Sunday  School  felt  a  touch  of 
sadness  in  seeing  the  old  building  go,  for  even 
its  discolored  walls  and  worn  carpets  were  dear 
to  all  who  had  found  a  home  within  its  portals. 
Many  tender  memories  were  enshrined  there. 
It  had  faithfully  met  the  needs  of  its  day  and 
time,  but  that  day  was  now  past.  The  friends 
it  had  known  in  its  youth  were  gone,  many  of 
them,  and  its  ways  were  not  the  ways  of  this 
new  generation.  Its  work  was  done  and  it  was 
ready  to  give  way  to  a  newer,  larger,  hand- 
somer building,  where  the  school  could  continue 
its  march  of  progress. 

In  1881  the  building  was  dedicated  to  God, 
and  to  the  service  of  Christian  education,  and 
it  was  fitting  that  before  it  finished  its  course 
God's  blessing  should  be  pronounced  upon  the 
work  that  had  been  carried  on  there  during 
these  years. 

The  farewell  service  was  held  in  the  build- 
ing, Sunday,  May  1,  1910,  and  the  following 


80  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

account  is   given  of  it  in   the  Raleigh   Daily 
Times  of  the  following  day: 

A  large  congregation  worshiped  at  Edenton  Street 
Church  yesterday  morning.  The  communion  service 
was  preceded  by  a  few  earnest  remarks  from  the 
pastor,  Rev.  H.  M.  North,  on  the  subject  of  thanks- 
giving. The  communion  should  be  partaken  of  in  a 
spirit  of  thanks.  Instead  of  the  usual  church  serv- 
ice in  the  evening,  a  farewell  service  was  held  in  the 
Sunday  School  room.  The  present  buildiDg  has  been 
sold  and  will  be  removed  this  week  so  that  work  may 
begin  on  the  new  $30,000  Sunday  School  building. 

There  is  a  feeling  of  sentiment  connected  with  the 
old  building,  felt  by  all  who  have  grown  up  in  the 
Sunday  School  there,  many  of  whom  were  baptized 
and  have  been  converted  at  its  altars.  The  superin- 
tendent has  an  especially  tender  feeling  for  the  old 
building  as  his  was  the  first  marriage  performed 
within  its  walls,  while  the  church  was  being  built. 

The  congregation  last  night  was  composed  princi- 
pally of  those  who  are  or  have  been  connected  with 
the  Sunday  School,  and  to  whom  the  service  had  a 
special  interest.  Mr.  North  preached  a  splendid  ser- 
mon from  the  familiar  words  of  the  benediction,  "And 
now  may  the  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  love 
of  God,  and  the  communion  of  the  Holy  Ghost  abide 
with  you  always."  It  was  a  sermon  most  appropriate 
to  the  occasion,  the  whole  service  bearing  a  tender 
farewell  note. 

Many  who  attended  the  final  service  in  the  old 
building  passed  out  the  doors  with  a  feeling  of 
regret  for  the  work  of  demolition  that  was  to  be 
begun  on  the  morrow. 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School  81 

THE  NEW  SUNDAY  SCHOOL 

Following  the  farewell  service,  the  first  Sun- 
day in  May,  1910,  the  next  day  workmen  be- 
gan to  tear  away  the  old  Sunday  School  build- 
ing to  make  way  for  the  commodious  and  hand- 
some brick  edifice  which  stands  today  on  the 
same  spot  as  the  old  building.  It  has  been  al- 
most two  years  in  building,  for  the  work  has 
been  many  times  delayed,  so  that  the  opening 
has  been  deferred  from  time  to  time. 

The  result  is  well  worth  whatever  there  may 
have  been  of  discomfort  and  inconvenience  in 
meeting  in  the  church,  for  Edenton  Street  has 
a  Sunday  School  building  today  which  is  a 
credit  not  only  to  this  church  but  to  Southern 
Methodism  as  well.  Built  of  brick  with  trim- 
mings of  granite,  it  presents  a  handsome  ap- 
pearance. Inside,  the  building  is  even  more 
pleasing  to  the  eye.  Plain  and  substantial,  it 
is  finished  in  dark  oak,  with  oak  chairs,  and 
furnishings  in  a  harmonizing  shade  of  green. 

The  building  is  entirely  modern  and  up-to- 
date,  erected  to  meet  the  needs  of  a  large  and 
growing  school.  It  is  conveniently  arranged 
and  fitted,  the  individual  class  rooms  being  a 
feature  that  will  meet  with  universal  favor  and 
will  greatly  aid  in  the  teaching  of  the  lesson. 
6 


82  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

The  double  row  of  class  rooms,  arranged  in 
semi-circular  fashion,  are  so  situated  that  the 
platform  will  be  visible  from  the  most  distant 
seat.  The  auditorium  and  class  rooms  com- 
bined will  seat  1,500  people. 

On  the  main  floor  are  six  class  rooms,  the 
ladies'  parlor,  the  library,  intermediate  and 
primary  departments,  the  primary  department 
being  so  divided  as  to  carry  on  graded  work. 
Around  the  gallery  above  are  one  large  and 
eleven  smaller  class  rooms  with  a  large  room  in 
the  rear.  The  basement  has  been  fitted  up  with 
kitchen  and  serving  room,  with  a  large  assem- 
bly room  which  can  be  used  as  a  dining  room 
when  luncheons  are  served  at  the  church.  This 
feature  will  be  especially  welcome  to  the  ladies 
of  the  church. 

Mr.  A.  H.  Green  was  chairman  of  the  build- 
ing committee,  the  other  members  being  Mr. 
Jos.  G.  Brown,  J.  W.  Barber,  D.  G.  Holt,  F.  H. 
Phillips,  I.  M.  Procter,  M.  W.  Woodard,  T.  C. 
Powell  and  W.  J.  Young,  Jr.  Mr.  C.  E. 
Hartge  is  the  architect  and  Mr.  M.  A.  Moser 
contractor  and  builder. 

Into  the  building  have  gone  the  prayers  and 
hopes  and  expectations  of  a  whole  church.  As 
has  already  been  said  the  women  of  the  circles 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School  83 

have  aided  largely  in  contributions  to  the  work, 
while  there  is  probably  not  a  child  in  the  Sun- 
day School  but  that  has  given  its  mite. 

Bishop  Kilgo,  in  a  recent  visit  to  Raleigh, 
paid  a  visit  to  the  new  building  and  expressed 
his  admiration  and  commendation  in  the  high- 
est terms,  declaring  it  to  be  one  of  the  finest  and 
most  modernly  equipped  schools  in  the  South- 
ern church.  A  well  known  Sunday  School 
man,  who  has  traveled  largely,  observing  Sun- 
day School  work,  says  it  is  one  of  the  finest  he 
knows  of  anywhere.  With  so  much  in  its  favor 
Edenton  Street  Sunday  School  in  the  future 
ought  to  be  a  far  greater  school  than  it  has  been 
in  the  past.  On  the  same  spot  of  the  former 
school,  it  is  indeed  building  on  the  same  foun- 
dations and  ideals  of  the  old  school,  into  which 
went  the  strength  of  many  noble  men  and 
women. 

Looking  to  the  opening  day  a  vigorous  cam- 
paign has  been  carried  on  by  the  teachers  to 
bring  in  all  the  old  scholars  and  many  new  ones 
as  well.  The  committees  appointed  have  done 
such  effective  work  that  this  will  be  a  great  day 
in  the  history  of  the  school.  The  whole  day 
will  be  turned  into  a  Sunday  School  celebra- 
tion, three  services  being  held. 


84  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

The  program  committee  is  composed  of  Mrs. 
"W.  J.  Young,  chairman;  Miss  Bessie  Brown, 
Miss  Ruth  Hughes,  Mrs.  C.  V.  Albright  and 
Mr.  H.  E.  Satterfield. 

On  the  music  committee  are  Mrs.  E.  M. 
Hall,  chairman ;  Mrs.  E.  W.  Hightower,  Miss 
Jennie  Procter  and  Mr.  W.  B.  Wright. 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School  85 


CONCLUSION 

Today  we  can  join  with  a  full  heart  with  the 
poet  in  the  hymn : 

I  love  thy  church,  O  God! 

Her  walls  before  thee  stand, 
Dear  as  the  apple  of  thine  eye, 

And  graven  on  thy  hand. 

For  her  my  tears  shall  fall, 

For  her  my  prayers  ascend, 
To  her  my  cares  and  toils  be  given, 

Till  toils  and  cares  shall  end. 

In  a  very  peculiar  sense  these  words  will  find 
lodgment  in  the  hearts  of  all  who  love  the 
walls  of  old  Edenton  Street  church.  For  more 
than  a  century  the  church  has  stood  on  this 
very  spot  which  is  truly  hallowed  ground. 
From  it  ascended  the  prayers  of  our  fathers  in 
days  that  are  past.  For  Edenton  Street  church 
their  toils  and  cares  were  given  until  for  them 
the  toils  and  cares  have  ended  in  perfect  rest 
and  peace. 

How  many  of  us  have  stopped  to  give  ai 
thought  to  the  early  days  of  our  church?  Yet 
they  were  glorious  times  and  the  story  of  them 
ought  to  thrill  every  one  who  has  the  least  in- 
terest here  today  with  a  feeling  of  pride.     Be- 


86  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

cause  we  have  reached  the  mountain  top  let  us 
not  forget  the  way  by  which  we  climbed.  While 
we  look  forward  with  bright  expectations  to  the 
pleasant  fields  and  high  places  of  endeavor  let 
us  not  lose  the  strength  that  came  only  by  sur- 
mounting the  heights  of  difficulty. 

Today  there  stand  out  a  number  of  mile- 
stones to  mark  the  line  of  progress.  The  first 
one  was  erected  in  1811,  when  one  of  the  first 
results  of  the  first  Methodist  Conference  held 
in  Raleigh  was  the  erection  of  the  First  Metho- 
dist Church.  It  was  a  wooden  structure,  50x60 
feet,  and  stood  on  the  site  of  the  Edenton 
Street  Church  of  the  present.  It  was  the  first 
house  of  worship  built  by  any  denomination  in 
the  city  and  was  finished  in  1811.  The  lot  on 
which  the  church  and  parsonage  are  located  was 
donated  by  Hon.  Wiley  Jones. 

The  next  milestone  to  be  erected  was  one  al- 
ready mentioned,  in  this  sketch,  the  founding 
of  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School  by  Rev.  Ben- 
nett T.  Blake  in  1827. 

In  1839  the  first  church  building  was  con- 
sumed by  fire.  Steps  were  taken  immediately 
to  erect  another  and  better  house  of  worship, 
and  1841  marks  the  entrance  into  the  new 
church. 


SUPERINTENDENTS 


1.  Donald  W.  Bain,  1877-1880 

2.  William  J.  Young,  1866-1877;  1880-1898 

3.  Joseph  G.  Brown,  1898-1903;  1905- 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School  87 

The  erection  of  a  separate  Sunday  School 
building  in  1881  marks  another  period  of  de- 
velopment, closely  followed  by  the  building  and 
dedication  of  the  new  church  in  1887. 

Today,  Sunday,  April  28,  1912,  we  go  an- 
other step  farther  and  place  another  milestone 
in  the  line  of  progress. 

For  more  than  a  half  century  the  same  old 
bell  has  been  pealing  out  invitation.  When 
the  new  church  was  built  it  was  the  unanimous 
opinion  that  no  other  bell  could  ever  tell  its 
story  quite  so  sweetly. 

One  of  the  oldest  inhabitants  of  the  city 
tells  a  pretty  story  about  this  bell,  which  she 
declares  to  be  a  fact.  It  was  cast,  she  says,  at 
Burns'  foundry  in  our  own  city,  the  members 
of  the  church  inarching  around  and  throwing 
in  handfuls  of  silver  when  it  was  cast.  There 
seems  to  be  no  record  of  the  fact,  but  it  is  stated 
that  a  number  of  bells  were  cast  at  Burns'  foun- 
dry, and  this  was  no  doubt  one  of  them.  While 
the  rest  of  the  story  is  probably  only  a  tradi- 
tion which  was  called  forth  by  the  unusual 
sweetness  and  silvery  tone,  it  adds  a  sentiment 
to  the  old  bell  which  we  all  have  learned  to 
love. 


88  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

May  this  great  day  draw  all  closer  in  love 
and  loyalty  to  the  church  and  school  which  have 
come  hand  in  hand  through  the  years,  so  closely 
united.  May  we  be  inspired  to  greater,  more 
faithful  and  unselfish  service,  looking  to  the 
Master  of  all  to  set  His  seal  upon  it. 

Brighter  still  and  brighter, 

Glows  the  western  sun, 
Shedding  all  its  gladness 

O'er  our  work  that's  done; 
Time  will  soon  be  over, 

Toil  and   sorrow  past, 
May  we,  blessed  Saviour, 

Find  a  rest  at  last! 

Onward,  ever  onward, 

Journeying  o'er   the   road 
Worn  by  saints  before  us, 

Journeying  on  to  God! 
Leaving  all  behind  us, 

May  we  hasten  on, 
Backward  never  looking 

Till  the  prize  is  won. 

Higher,  then  and  higher, 

Bear  the  ransomed  soul, 
Earthly  toils  forgetting, 

Saviour,  to  its  goal; 
Where,  in  joys  unthought  of, 

Saints  with  angels  sing, 
Never  weary  raising 

Praises  to  their  King. 


APPENDIX 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School  91 

OPENING  OF  THE  NEW  SUNDAY  SCHOOL 

A  more  perfect  day  could  not  have  been  de- 
sired than  dawned  Sunday,  April  28,  1912. 
Following  a  rainy  Sunday  the  bright,  sun- 
shiny spring  day  was  hailed  with  joy  by  many 
hearts  in  the  city,  for  it  was  to  be  a  day  of 
great  things,  the  biggest  day  in  the  history  of 
Edenton  Street  Methodist  Sunday  School,  the 
day  when  those  who  had  labored  unceasingly 
for  the  new  building  and  for  a  bigger  school 
were  to  see  their  hopes  and  expectations  more 
than  realized.  The  formal  opening  of  the  new 
building  on  this  glorious  Sunday  morning  was 
a  time  of  closer  union  and  deeper  love  and 
fellowship.  Those  who  had  any  part  in  the 
services  or  any  interest  in  the  school  felt  closer 
drawn  to  each  other  through  their  common  love 
for  the  old  school.  There  was  a  smile  on  every 
face  and  a  song  in  every  heart.  Though  this 
was  not  the  formal  dedication  of  the  building, 
it  was  a  consecration  in  every  true  sense. 

Three  services  were  held  during  the  day,  the 
exercises  doing  honor  to  the  occasion  and  at- 
tracting large  congregations ;  many  coming 
from  the  other  churches  of  the  city.  Large  col- 
lections   and    pledges    were    raised,    the    total 


92  Edenion  Street  Sunday  School 

amounting  to  something  more  than  $4,000.  Of 
the  $31,000  cost  of  the  building,  $14,000  of 
this  amount  had  already  been  paid. 

The  exercises  were  full  of  life  and  interest, 
the  music  by  a  large  orchestra  and  the  singing 
by  a  choir  of  white  robed  girls  being  a  feature 
of  the  day  that  was  greatly  enjoyed.  The  fol- 
lowing order  of  services  was  observed  at  the 
morning  hour: 

Orchestra — 9:30  to  10  o'clock. 
Praise  God  from  Whom  All  Blessings  Flow. 
Prayer — Rev.  H.  M.  North. 

Scripture  Lesson — Psalm   100.     Responsively,   School 
standing. 

Superintendent. — Make  a  joyful  noise  unto  the  Lord, 
all  ye  lands. 

School. — Serve  the  Lord  with  gladness:  come  before 
His  presence  with  singing. 

Superintendent. — Know  ye  that  the  Lord  He  is  God: 
it  is  He  that  hath  made  us,  and  not  we  ourselves;  we 
are  His  people  and  the  sheep  of  His  pasture. 

School. — Enter  into  His  gates  with  thanksgiving, 
and  into  His  courts  with  praise:  he  thankful  unto 
Him,  and  bless  His  name. 

Superintendent. — For  the  Lord  is  good;  His  mercy 
is  everlasting;  and  His  truth  endureth  to  all  genera- 
tions. 

Hymn,  No.  184. 

Processional — Primary  Department. 
Song — Primary  Department. 
Presentation  of  Diplomas  and  Bibles. 
Recognition  of  Cradle  Roll. 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School  93 

Welcome — Worth  Bagley  Daniels. 

Song,  No.  70. 

What  the  Sunday  School  Has  Meant  to  One  Class — 

Clifton   Beckwith. 
The  Baraca  Class — Prof.  W.  C.  Norton. 
Chorus — Students   from   Blind   Institution. 
The  Philathea  Class— Mrs.  H.  E.  Satterfield. 
The  Home  Department — Mrs.  V.  Royster. 
Male  Quartette — A.  and  M.  College. 
History  of  the  School — Miss  Susan  Iden. 
Chorus. 
Orchestra. 
Hymn,  No.  190. 
Address — Dr.  Dred  Peacock. 
Hymn,  No.  196. 

This  Building — Joseph  G.  Brown,  Superintendent. 
This  Occasion — Rev.  H.  M.  North,  Pastor. 
Offering. 
Hymn,  No.  39. 
Benediction. 
Orchestra. 

The  congregation  at  the  morning  service 
filled  every  available  section  of  the  great  build- 
ing. The  seats  were  all  taken,  many  extra 
chairs  being  placed  in  the  aisles  and  around  the 
gallery,  while  many  people  stood  during  a  large 
part  of  the  exercises. 

The  address  was  delivered  by  Dr.  Dred  Pea- 
cock, of  High  Point.  He  humorously  depicted 
the  Sunday  Schools  of  the  time  when  he  and 
many  of  the  older  members  of  Edenton  Street 


94  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

school  were  boys  and  girls,  and  enumerated 
some  of  the  essentials  to  successful  teaching. 

During  this  service  diplomas  were  presented 
to  the  graduates  of  the  primary  department, 
welcome  was  extended  by  Worth  Bagiey  Dan- 
iels, and  "What  the  Sunday  School  Has  Meant 
to  One  Class"  was  told  by  Mr.  Clifton  Beck- 
with.  Representatives  of  two  other  classes, 
Prof.  W.  C.  Norton,  Baraca,  and  Mrs.  H.  E. 
Satterfield,  Philathea,  told  what  was  being 
done  in  their  classes.  Mrs.  Vitruvius  Roy- 
ster  talked  on  the  Home  Department,  and  Miss 
Susan  Franks  Iden  read  a  synopsis  of  her  his- 
tory of  the  Sunday  School,  which  had  been  pre- 
pared for  this  occasion.  The  superintendent, 
Mr.  Joseph  G.  Brown,  and  the  pastor,  Rev. 
Harry  M.  North,  made  a  few  appropriate  re- 
marks, and  then  those  present  were  given  the 
opportunity  to  subscribe  to  the  building  fund. 

At  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  fraternal 
services  were  held,  representatives  of  other 
Sunday  scho.ols  in  the  city  participating,  the 
following  being  the  program : 

Orchestra. 

Hymn  No.  153. 

Prayer — John  T.  Pullen. 

Go  Forward — J.  Van  Carter. 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School  95 

Greetings  from  Other  Methodists — Rev.  C.  J.  Harrell. 

Solo — Mr.  Beasley. 

Greetings   from   Our   Neighbors — Col.   Fred   A.   Olds, 

C.  H.  Stephenson,  E.  B.  Crow,  N.  B.  Broughton. 
Hymn  No.  206. 
Solo — Mrs.  Horace  Dowell. 
A  Suggestion  from  the  Pastor. 
Doxology. 
Orchestra. 

Although  the  audience  at  the  afternoon  serv- 
ice was  not  as  large  as  in  the  morning  or  in 
the  evening,  to  many  this  was  the  most  interest- 
ing service  of  the  day.  The  speeches  were 
short  and  live  and  there  was  good  music,  the 
singing  being  mostly  congregational,  a  point 
that  had  been  stressed  at  all  the  services. 

At  this  meeting  greetings  were  received  from 
the  churches  and  Sunday  schools  of  other  de- 
nomination, and  these  all  breathed  the  spirit 
of  friendship  and  good  will,  rejoicing  with  the 
Methodists  in  their  day  of  achievement.  Mr. 
Joseph  G.  Brown,  the  superintendent,  presided. 
The  opening  prayer  was  made  by  Mr.  John  T. 
Pullen. 

The  first  speaker  was  Mr.  J.  Van  Carter, 
general  secretary  of  the  North  Carolina  Sun- 
day School  Association.  Mr.  Carter's  theme 
was  "Go  Forward."     Rev.  C.  J.  Harrell,  pas- 


96  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

tor  of  Epworth  Church,  brought  greetings  from 
the  other  Methodists  of  the  city.  Such  an  oc- 
casion, he  declared,  brought  joy  to  all,  but  the 
Methodists  of  the  city  were  especially  proud 
of  it.  It  is  a  working  plant  for  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  through  it  to  the  kingdom  of  God. 
A  building  like  it  means  a  strengthening  of  the 
fold,  and  he  was  proud  of  it. 

The  greeting  from  the  Episcopalian  neigh- 
bors was  brought  by  Col.  Fred  A.  Olds,  and  as 
the  man  who  shows  Raleigh  to  visitors,  he  de- 
clared he  would  not  forget  about  this  building. 
He  especially  commended  the  teacher-training 
department  of  the  school. 

Mr.  C.  H.  Stephenson,  superintendent  of  the 
Christian  Sunday  School,  declared  this  was  his 
first  day  of  speech-making,  but  he  was  happy  to 
bring  the  greeting  of  the  nearest  neighbor. 

Mr.  E.  B.  Crow,  who  like  "Brer  Rabbit" 
had  been  born  and  bred,  not  in  the  "brier 
patch,"  but  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  gave 
seven  points  that  characterize  an  ideal  Sunday 
School,  the  first  two  of  which  he  declared  Eden- 
ton Street  School  already  possessed,  ideal 
equipment  and  an  ideal  superintendent. 

The  last  greeting  was  from  Mr.  1ST.  B. 
Broughton,  the  live  superintendent  of  the  Tab- 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School  97 

ernacle  Sunday  School,  and  the  man,  who.,  Mr. 
Brown  declared,  was  known  whether  at  home, 
in  Boston  or  Jerusalem,  as  "the  Sunday  School 
man."  Mr.  Broughton's  greeting  was  very 
heartily  expressed.  He  recalled  his  boyhood 
days  and  the  Union  Sunday  School  picnics,  tell- 
ing an  amusing  incident  of  the  little  boy  who 
was  greedily  clutching  for  two  handfuls  of  cake 
and  when  reproved  his  mother  exclaimed:  "Eat 
just  as  much  as  you  want  to,  John  William,  you 
belong  to  the  big  Methodist  Sunday  School !" 
Mr.  Broughton  wished  she  could  see  the  "big 
Methodist  Sunday  School"  of  today.  He  de- 
clared he  had  seen  a  good  many  of  the  best 
buildings  in  the  country,  but  he  had  never  seen 
a  better  building  for  Sunday  School  work  and 
he  was  proud  of  it. 

At  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  opening 
day's  exercises  were  brought  to  a  close  with  the 
following  services : 

Anthem. 
Hymn  No.  659. 
Prayer. 

Scripture  Lesson. 
Offertory. 
Hymn  No.  658. 

Sermon — Rev.  Leslie  P.  Howard. 
Hymn  No.  192. 
Benediction. 
7 


98  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

The  members  of  the  Sunday  School  and 
church  and  many  visitors  of  other  denomina- 
tions met  again  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  Sunday 
School  auditorium,  to  conclude  a  day  that  had 
been  so  full  of  interest,  and  one  on  which  even 
the  weather  had  smiled  in  brightest  favor. 

Rev.  II.  M.  North,  the  pastor,  said  that  for 
the  closing  message  of  the  day  they  were  to 
have  Rev.  Leslie  P.  Howard,  pastor  of  the 
Methodist  Church  at  Rocky  Mount,  and  while 
this  was  not  saying  that  they  were  saving  the 
best  for  the  last,  those  who  listened  to,  his  mag- 
nificent sermon,  a  message  of  hope  and  faith, 
and  high  ideals,  felt  lifted  and  inspired  and 
felt  that  this  was  indeed  a  fitting  message  to 
have  at  the  close  of  such  an  eventful  day. 

Mr.  Howard's  text  was  Genesis  28:12-14,  the 
vision  of  Jacob  recorded  in  his  dream  of  the 
ladder  stretching  from  earth  to  Heaven. 
Surely  this  must  be  a  place,  he  declared,  where 
men  must  dream  dreams  and  see  visions  and  go 
out  into  the  world  and  find  the  vision  and 
dream  to  be  The  real  thing.  In  after  years 
they  will  come  back  again,  as  Jacob  did  to 
Bethel,  and  find  again  the  heavenly  vision. 
He  declared  this  building  should  be  dedicated 
to   the   eternal    thing   in   man    that   keeps   him 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School  99 

above  the  beast.  It  should  be  dedicated  to  re- 
ligion so  that  all  men  may  become  religious. 
Mr.  Howard  did  not  despair  of  modern  life, 
he  declared,  because  unseen  powers  lurk  in 
the  souls  of  men  about  us.  When  the  infinite 
forces  of  man  assert  themselves  then  he  is 
linked  on  to  the  eternal.  To  the  task  of  bring- 
ing out  these  forces  in  men  this  building  should 
be  dedicated. 

So  the  day  came  to  a  close,  and  while  rising 
to  the  mountain  top  and  looking  back  over  the 
rugged  way  by  which  this  triumphant  day  had 
been  attained,  a  glance  was  also  cast  toward  the 
future  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  heavenly  vision 
that  raised  Jacob. 


100  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 

PASTORS 

Beginning   with   the   founder   of   the   school,    Rev. 
Bennett  T.  Blake,  in  1827: 

1827.  Bennett  T.  Blake. 

1828.  George  A.  Bain. 

1829.  George  W.  Nolley. 

1830.  Abram  Penn. 

1831.  Melville  B.  Cox,  Bennett  T.  Blake. 

1832.  James  McDonald. 

1833.  John  Kerr,  Daniel  Hall. 

1834.  James  Jameison. 

1835.  James  Jameison. 

1836.  George  W.  Langhorne. 

1837.  Edward  Wadsworth. 

1838.  Joseph  H.  Davis. 

1839.  William  S.   Johnson. 

1840.  John  Todd  Brame. 

1841.  William  S.  Johnson,  Bennett  T.  Blake. 

1842.  Sidney  D.  Bumpas. 

1843.  Sidney  D.  Bumpas. 

1844.  John  E.  Edwards. 

1845.  John  E.  Edwards. 

1846.  Thomas   S.   Campbell. 

1847.  Robert  O.  Burton. 

1848.  Robert  O.  Burton. 

1849.  Rufus  T.  Heflin. 

1850.  Rufus  T.  Heflin. 

1851.  Peter  Doub. 

1852.  Peter  Doub. 

1853.  William  E.  Pell. 

1854.  William  E.  Pell. 

1855.  Numa  P.  Reid. 

1856.  Numa  P.  Reid. 

1857.  Joseph  H.  Wheeler. 


Edenton  Street  Sunday  School         101 

1858.  L.  L.  Hendren. 

1859.  L.  L.  Hendren. 

1860.  Joel  W.  Tucker. 

1861.  Joel  W.  Tucker. 

1862.  John  S.  Long. 

1863.  John  S.  Long. 

1864.  Braxton  Craven. 

1865.  Braxton  Craven. 

1866.  H.  T.  Hudson. 

1867.  H.  T.  Hudson. 

1868.  H.  T.  Hudson. 

1869.  H.  T.  Hudson. 

1870.  Jonathan  H.  Dally. 

1871.  L.  S.  Burkhead. 

1872.  Adolphus  W.  Mangum. 

1873.  Adolphus  W.  Mangum. 

1874.  Adolphus  W.  Mangum. 

1875.  Adolphus  W.   Mangum,  L.   S.   Burkhead. 

1876.  L.   S.  Burkhead. 

1877.  L.  S.  Burkhead. 

1878.  William   S.  Black. 
1879  William  S.  Black. 

1880.  William  S.  Black. 

1881.  Augustus  A.   Boshamer. 

1882.  E.  A.  Yates. 

1883.  E.  A.  Yates. 

1884.  W.  C.  Norman. 

1885.  W.  C.  Norman. 

1886.  W.  C.  Norman. 

1887.  W.  C.  Norman. 

1888.  J.  T.  Gibbs. 

1889.  J.  T.  Gibbs. 

1890.  J.  H.  Cordon. 

1891.  J.  H.  Cordon. 

1892.  J.  N.  Cole. 


102  Edenton  Street  Sunday  School 


1893. 

J.  N.  Cole. 

1894. 

J.  N.  Cole. 

1895. 

J.  N.  Cole. 

1896. 

W.  C.  Norman. 

1897. 

W.  C.  Norman. 

1898. 

W.  C.  Norman. 

1899. 

"W.  C.  Norman. 

1900. 

G.  F.  Smith. 

1901. 

G.  F.  Smith. 

1902. 

G.  F.  Smith. 

1903. 

G.  F.  Smith. 

1904. 

R.  F.  Bumpas. 

1905. 

R.  F.  Bumpas. 

1906. 

R.  F.  Bumpas. 

1907. 

R.  F.  Bumpas. 

1908. 

F.  M.  Shamburger. 

1909. 

F.  M.  Shamburger,  W.  A.  Stanbury. 

1910. 

H.  M.  North. 

1911. 

H.  M.  North. 

1912. 

H.  M.  North. 

SUPERINTENDENTS 

Nathaniel  O.  Blake,  reported  as  the  first  superin- 
tendent, was  appointed  in  1827,  serving  only  a  short 
time. 

Rev.  Thomas  J.  LeMay,  served  until  May  19,  1850, 
with  the  exception  of  two  years  filled  by  L.  W.  Peck. 

S.  H.  Young,  May  19,  1850— May  27,  1866. 

W.  J.  Young,  May  27,  1866— September  24,  1877. 

Donald  W.  Bain,  September  24,  1877— October  19, 
1880. 

W.  J.  Young  (second  term),  October  19,  1880-1898. 

Joseph  G.  Brown,  1898-1903. 

W.  J.  Young,  Jr.,  1903-1905. 

Joseph  G.  Brown   (second  term),  1905 — 


Date 

Due 

I 

1 

L.   B.   Cat. 

No.  1137 

268.876    n9E  113614 

•any 
Historical   Sketch 


Z66,9>lte  m^  113614 


etsity  I-1 


0917309/1.00 


Ejqn  A)isj3Aiun  8>(na 


